The importance of this year’s Japan Open has been greatly heightened due to the Tokyo Olympics being just a year away. With the tournament taking place at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo, which will host the Badminton, the players have the chance to get a feel of the conditions.
Going deep into the tournament will of course give the players significant confidence going forward. And if making it to Tokyo, they will have a good foundation to compete for a medal.
Jan O Jorgensen, the last European in the competition, made an important milestone in his Olympic campaign by reaching the semi-finals. With two compatriots (Axelsen and Antonsen) both now ranked in the top 10, the race is really on for Jorgensen to lay his claim to a qualification place.
Squeezed Christie’s bicep
On his way to the semi-final, Jorgensen knocked out Lin Dan and recently crowned Indonesia Open champion Chou Tien Chen. Both in very tight 3 game battles. In the quarters he looked very assured against his teammate Rasmus Gemke.
However, in the semi-final, he came up against a Jonatan Christie in fine form. It was one of those matches where the score of 21-14, 21-14, doesn’t do it justice. There were many long competitive rallies, but Christie on the day displayed great control, often dictating the rhythm of the rally, allowing him to pick his moment to attack. Jorgensen, so impressed by Christie’s strength, when congratulating him at the net, he smiled and squeezed Christie’s bicep!
Momota awaits in the final. This will be an extremely interesting and entertaining finale to the Japan Open.
For the full semi-final results, click
here.