Indian progresses following two dramatic games to seal Sunday final date with mainland China’s Li Shifeng
Crowd favourite Chou Tien-chen said he had no excuses for his agonising Saturday night Li-Ning Hong Kong Open semi-final defeat by unseeded Lakshya Sen.
Taiwan’s Chou, the No 3 seed, who has returned to the elite end of his sport following a cancer diagnosis two years ago, lost 23-21, 22-20 in a gripping 56-minute clash with tenacious Indian Sen.
Li Shifeng of China, the No 2 seed, overcame France’s Christo Popov 21-18, 21-19 in the other last-four clash.
Chou was furious that Sen got away with what looked like a double hit as he played a delicate drop shot late in the opening game, and the 35-year-old was still complaining to a referee assessor in the bowels of Hong Kong Coliseum minutes after coming off court. There is no video assistant referee in badminton, only line technology.
