Dubai: After showing their grit in a narrow escape against Chai Biao/Hong Wei of China on Friday, playing their rematch in two days, Malaysia’s No. 2 seeds Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong raised their intensity in the semifinal of 2016 Dubai World Superseries finals on Saturday, fighting to control rallies and settling quickly into rhythm to beat the Chinese pair twice in two days with 21-18, 21-16 in 37 minutes.
Goh/Tan are set to face No. 1 seeds Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda of Japan in the men’s doubles final on Sunday. Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda saw off Mads Conrad-Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding of Denmark 21-17, 21-19 in other men’s doubles semi-final.
An inspired Viktor Axelsen of Denmark toppled men’s singles No. 2 seed Son Wan Ho of Korea 21-17, 21-19 to win the semi-final on Saturday and avenge his defeat to the South Korean in Group B fixture on Thursday.
“I was a little too excited at the end of second set, but I am extremely happy with my performance,” said Axelsen who had wasted three match points opportunities in the second set.
Axelsen will play Tian Houwei of China in the final. The Chinese player came back from one set down to beat another Denmark player Jan Jorgensen 21-17, 19-21, 21-13 in 62 minutes.
In mixed doubles, England’s husband-and-wife pair Gabby/Chris Adcock are one match away from successfully defending their mixed doubles World Superseries Finals title after the England duo dispatched Indonesian pair Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto 21-19, 17-21, 21-9 in the semi-final.
The Adcocks will clash with China’s Zheng Siwei/Chen Qingchen in Sunday’s final.
