K-sob! All four Korean semi-finalists fizzle out in Bangkok

Dynamic duo: Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh (left) and Sapsiree Taerattanachai will face second seeded Indonesians Praveen Jordan-Melati Daeva in the mixed doubles final.

PETALING JAYA: It was a miserable day for the Korean brigade as their hopes of taking home at least one title in the Yonex Thailand Open evaporated in the Bangkok heat.

South Korea had representatives in all events except for the men’s singles on semi-finals day but all crashed out.

Reigning Olympics champion Carolina Marin snuffed out the challenge of young An Se-young by winning 21-18,21-16 in a women’s singles semi-final match.

The 27-year-old Spanish badminton star lost to Se-young, only 18, in the French Open final in 2019 but she made sure not to be humbled a second time.

Se-young was unable to sustain the quality of her shots towards the closing stages of the second game and conceded defeat in 51 minutes, leaving Marin to enter the final with a chance to win her first title on Thai soil.

Se-young, ranked ninth in the world, was disappointed not to lift her game at the crucial stages.

“I think I wasn’t feeling confident today. I was being too careful, so that was the problem.

“If I get to play against her again, I will be more active and go in with more confidence.

“She is fast so I will do my best to prepare both my defence and attack in order to win next time, ” said the Korean youngster.

The Thai hosts were rejoicing at the prospect of two successful title runs today in the mixed doubles and women’s doubles.

Mixed doubles top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai overcame Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung 17-21,21-17,22-20 to set up a final battle against second seeded Indonesians Praveen Jordan-Melati Daeva.

The Indonesian pair beat Frenchmen Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue 21-16,23-21 earlier.

It was heartbreak as both Korean women’s doubles challengers lost their respective semi-finals.

Indonesian fifth seeds Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu turned the tables on third seeds Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan 15-21,21-15,21-16 while Jongkolphan Kititrakul-Rawinda Prajongjai prevailed 21-17,17-21,22-20 against Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee Yong.

Taiwan pair Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin ended the run of Choi Sol-gyu-Seo Seung-jae 15-21,21-14,21-14 in the men’s doubles last-four stage.