Christo Popov became the first French badminton player to reach the title-deciding match at the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals after defeating Japan’s Naraoka Kodai 21-19, 21-8 in Saturday’s (21 December) semi-final.
The world No. 8 edged a tightly contested opening game, with the score locked at 9-9 before gradually asserting control.
The second game proved one-sided, as Popov dominated proceedings, closing out the match at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium against the world No. 9 Naraoka.
The victory sends Popov into his third final of the season, following runner-up finishes at the Swiss Open and the French Open.
“One thought was getting out of the group stage, which would be a huge thing for me,” Popov said after the win.
“Now I’m into the final, so am happy. But also I had a long period without competing, and that was a good thing for me to come this week to play against the top players during one week and also challenge ourselves to see where we are, and to prepare for the next season.”
The Paris 2024 Olympian will face the winner of the other semi-final between wold No. 1 Yu Ki Shi and world No.2 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in Sunday’s (21 December) final.