MADRID, 25 Jan. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Spanish badminton player Carolina Marín said goodbye this Saturday in the semifinals of the Thai Masters, of the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300 category, after falling to the Japanese Akane Yamaguchi (14-21, 23-21, 21-18), currently World number three.
The Huelva, current Olympic champion, thus completes the Asian triptych, in which she reached the semifinals in Malaysia and the final in Indonesia – both Super 500 category – where she lost to Thai Ratchanok Intanon (21-19, 11-21, 21-18) on the same track where at the beginning of 2019 the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee was broken.
On this occasion, neither of the two finalists in Jakarta has gained access to the Thai final, in a tournament held under an environment of extreme humidity. Marín slipped into the penultimate round after overcoming, in previous rounds, South Korean Kim Ga Eun (20-22, 21-10 21-5), the local Pornpawee Chochuwong (21-11, 21-9) and the Japanese Sayaka Takahashi (21-9, 21-16).
The three-time world champion and European four-time champion presented the duel with a favorable balance of 6-4 against Yamaguchi, with the last victory precisely in his debut in the Asian triptych (21-4, 24-22). And with Spanish rule began the first set, in which after 9 equals the Andalusian endorsed a partial 8-0 that would serve to get ahead.
However, Yamaguchi brought out a game of extreme defense and wear that eroded the Spanish until 19-13. A partial 7-0 gave Marin options, but the Japanese was responsible for breaking their hopes and sending the duel to the third set. In it, the advantages of 2 to 5 points helped him win the contest.
In this way, Marin will have to wait for a defeat by South Korean An se Young in the final to ensure they arrive in the 'Top 8' at All England in March. Before, he will have the European Championship for women's teams in Lievin (France) from February 11 to 17, and the Barcelona Spain Masters, test Super 300 of the HSBC World Tour from February 18 to 23.