Match: Chen Yufei v Busanan Ongbamrungphan, Women's singles semi-final
Date: 11 February, Saturday
Time: 4:30pm SGT/2pm IST/8:30am GMT
Venue: Nimibutr Stadium, Bangkok
TV Channel: In Singapore, Hub Sports 1 will provide live TV coverage.
Live streaming: The match can be watched online at BWF Youtube channel, Hotstar.
Live scores can be found on tournament's official website.
Overview
Chen Yufei, who finished 2016 with a title at the Macau Open, has begun the new season from where she left last year. The reigning world junior champion has looked at ease so far, decimating opponents in straight games over the first three rounds.
On Friday, the 18-year-old Chinese shuttler took only 33 minutes to outclass 37-year-old Japanese shuttler Natsumi Shimoda 21-15, 21-11 to book a place in the semi-final of the ongoing Grand Prix Gold tournament. Chen will face top seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the all-important clash on Saturday at Bangkok.
Also read - Zii Jia Lee v Kantaphon Wangcharoen, Men's singles semi-final: Live streaming information
While the semi-final clash will be a testing one for Chen, the world number 20 has been making her presence felt at the senior level after conquering the junior badminton circuit by toppling quite a few big names including Thailand's top-ranked shuttler Ratchanok Intanon last year. Notably, she defeated Busanan twice last year in straight games (Japan Open, Chinese Taipei Open) and now has a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over the Thai shuttler.
On the other hand, world number 12 Busanan has not produced the right results in the recent past despite the promise that she has shown in the recent past. The 20-year-old suffered first-round exits at Superseries events late last year but has started the new season on a high by storming into the semi-final.
While the top seed will be eyeing for revenge against the Chinese shuttler, she needs to take the game to her opponent from the word go if she has to stop the in-form Chen from making the progress in the tournament.
TV Schedule
India: Star Sports
Singapore: Hub Sports 1
