Badminton News: Hong Kong player Lee Cheuk Yiu managed to beat Japanese world number 6 Kodai Naraoka to qualify for the men's singles final of the BWF World Tour Super 750 India Open 2024.

When interviewed after the match, Lee Cheuk-yiu expressed surprise at his performance throughout Sunday. After a marathon 84-minute battle, Lee Cheuk Yiu defeated Kodai Naraoka 21-13, 15-21, 21-19 to advance to the final of a Super 750 level event for the first time in his career.

Lee Cheuk-yao said after the match: “I was very nervous at the last minute. My opponent challenged me on the last point. I was afraid to look at the screen. I hope this is the winning point. It's my first time competing in the Super 750 final, so I'm very excited.”

Regarding his surprising performance as the dark horse, Lee Cheuk-yiu said: “I tried not to think too much, I just ran as hard as I could and played ball after ball. I believed in myself and in the coach. The last three games were good for me. I was a surprise myself.

Lee Cheuk-yiu also directly said: “I played very well in this tournament, but I think I can be better and stronger. I feel like it's not enough and I don't “I haven't reached the best condition, but I'm starting to feel that way”, underlined the player who also eliminated the Thai world champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, and the Indonesian world number 4, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, on the way to the final of the Indian Open 2024.

In the final, Lee Cheuk-yiu will try to win his first title this season against Chinese world number 2 Shi Yuqi, who in the other match managed to topple host country mainstay HS Prannoy.

Article Tag: Lee Cheuk Yiu, Kodai Naraoka, Indian Open 2024