Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto secured a semifinal berth at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2025 after a narrow win over Group B leaders Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan.

The Japanese needed a win to qualify ahead of Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian and started strong, but after the Malaysians levelled at a game apiece the match turned into a tight contest, with neither pair able to establish a clear lead. The outcome hung by a thread at 19-all, but the Japanese got a huge reprieve with Tan serving into the net, and they capitalised on the opening to take the match 21-15 16-21 21-19.

Jia/Zhang won their second match of the group, 21-11 21-8 over Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi, but finished third on game difference.

“In the first game we couldn’t play the way we wanted, so for the second game we discussed on how to execute and it was better,” said Muralitharan. “In the third, it was about supporting each other and staying calm and applying pressure. They did well to pressure us, but now this result is in the past and we have to get back.

“Overall we are quite happy but there are things we need to improve on. We want to stay focussed and rest well and prepare for the next match.”

Tan said she had felt something in her legs, and was glad it hadn’t played up.

“We tried to enjoy the match. There were some moments when my legs weren’t fine. So I’m happy that I could finish the match healthy.”

Li Shi Feng Retires

Men’s singles second seed Li Shi Feng retired from his final Group B match against Chou Tien Chen with an ankle injury. Li was leading 21-14 14-11 when he fell on court and twisted his right ankle.

Li’s results from the group will be null and void, and he finishes fourth in the group.

Other Highlights

» Ratchanok Intanon blew past last year’s finalist Han Yue in just 38 minutes, 21-17 21-10, to take her semifinal place behind Group B leader Wang Zhi Yi.

» In the contest for top place in mixed doubles Group B, Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping saved five game points to beat Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei 21-18 26-24.

» The women’s singles Group A battle between An Se Young and Akane Yamaguchi saw the Olympic champion beat the world champion 14-21 21-5 21-14 to keep her clean record in the tournament and establish the best-ever win rate over a season.

→Results (Day 3)