Several categories progressed from quarterfinals into semifinal stages on Day 4 of the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Dubai Para Badminton International Dubai 2021, while other winners will be decided based on points.

In three of the women’s categories, winners will be decided when points are awarded after the last matches are played on Saturday.

Women’s WH2 singles is a battle to the top spot between Emine Seckin (Turkey) who takes on Russia’s Liliia Prokofeva, and Tatiana Gureeva (Russia) who will play India’s Ammu Mohan.

Seckin will have another chance at a win when she partners Belgium’s To Man-Kei to play against Russia’s Liliia and Nataliia Prokofeva for points in the women’s doubles WH1-WH2 category.

The other pair in contention for the lead is Switzerland’s Karin Suter-Erath and Cynthia Mathez.

The winner of the women’s SL4 singles will also depend on group points with Leani Ratri Oktila (Indonesia) clearly ahead of the pack after she took out Norway’s Helle Sofie Sagoy 21-11 21-17.

Japan’s only representative Keita Nishimura, defeated Russia’s Alexander Polstyankin 21-12 21-13, to set up a men’s singles Wheelchair (WH1) semifinal clash against top seed David Toupe (France).

“David is a very experienced, clever and technical player but I’ll fight very hard to win. All the wheelchair players here are very good at playing long rallies. That’s what I need to do more,” said Nishimura.

Prem Kumar Ale (India) took out teammate Shashank Kumar, 21-13 21-13 and will meet Malaysia’s Muhammad Ikhwan Ramli, who received a bye, in the other men’s singles WH1 semifinal.

Cheah Liek Hou (Malaysia) advanced to the men’s singles Standing Upper (SU5) semifinals by defeating compatriot Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri 21-10 21-17, and will take on long-time nemesis Suryo Nugroho of Indonesia.

“The last time I won against Suryo and Dheva (Anrimusthi) was in Brazil in early 2020. Since then, with no competition, I can’t really say just how much they’ve improved until I get on court,” he said.

In the Short Stature (SH6) category, Charles Noakes (France) ran out India’s Raja Magotra 21-19 21-12 and will take on Krishna Nagar (India) in the semifinals.

The other semifinal will be between Russia’s Alexander Mekhdiev who overcame Nina Kozlova (Ukraine) 21-11 21-6 to set up a meet with Malaysia’s Didin Taresoh.

NOTABLE RESULTS

• Luca Olgiati (Switzerland) stopped Thomas Jakob (France) from advancing to the men’s singles WH2 semi-final by winning 20-22 21-14 21-13
• In the men’s SL4 quarterfinal, Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan (No.2 seed) lost to an in-form Germany’s Marcel Adam 16-21 21-10 17-21

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“The Coronavirus situation is making things difficult for people in the world but I hope that the players who come to Tokyo for the Paralympics will feel safe and enjoy playing there.” – Nishimura

“It was good to hear the cheering in the hall. Even though we need to concentrate, we miss the atmosphere of noise and clapping.” – Faustine Noel (France)

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