Li Xuerui & Se Young A N to clash in New Zealand Open final

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 15 in Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings Li Xuerui, 28, China, a Gold Medallist at 2012 London Olympics, upset World No 4 and top seed Akane Yamaguchi, 21, Japan, in a tough three-game contest in the semi-finals of Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand Open at Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, on May 4, 2019, to reach the final of the tournament.

Sixth seed Li Xuerui beat Yamaguchi 13-21, 21-19, 21-13 coming from behind in 50 minutes in the semi-finals. Xuerui won 55 rallies in the match to 53 by Yamaguchi. She won 5 consecutive points in the match to 6 by Yamaguchi. Xuerui now leads Yamaguchi 7-3 head to head.

Li Xuerui will face World No 78 Se Young A N, 17, South Korea, in the final on May 5, 2019. Se Young A N stunned World No 18 Aya Ohori, 22, Japan, the 7th seed, in the semi-finals on May 4. Se Young defeated Ohori 21-17, 19-21, 21-13 in 75 minutes to reach the final of the event. Se Young won 61 rallies in the match to 51 by Ohori. She won 5 consecutive points in the match to 7 by Ohori. It was first meeting between the two players.