India’s Kiran George defeated Takuma Obayashi of Japan to enter the men’s singles semifinals of Korea Masters badminton tournament on Friday.
The 24-year-old Indian overcame his fifth seeded Japanese opponent 21-14, 21-16 in the quarterfinals in a match that lasted 39 minutes.
Earlier, the World number 44 George upset third seed Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 19-21, 21-17 in the second round.
George runs into Thailand’s top seed and world number five Kunlavut Vitidsarn — who won 21-15, 21-11 against Liu Liang of China — in the semifinals on Saturday.
George is the lone Indian shuttler competing in the tournament.
After 1-1 scoreline, he was always in the lead in the first game. When George zoomed to 15-6 lead, Obayashi made a brief resistance, closing down the gap to 12-16. But that was all the Japanese could do as George notched four straight points to take the first game.
The second game was a much closer affair as the duo breathed down each other’s neck.
George was initially 7-3 ahead but Obayashi fought back to make it 8-8. After that, it was a neck-and-neck contest. But from 17-16, George grabbed four straight points to seal the second game and the match.
(With inputs from PTI)
