Gregoria Mariska keeps Indonesia's hopes alive in women's singles in world junior championships
She is unwell but Indonesia's rising start Gregoria Mariska remains Indonesia's best bet in the women's singles in the World Junior Championships in Yogjakarta after she made the semi-finals.
The semi-finals assured Mariska, who is a victim of the flu bug, and Indonesia of the bronze medal but the colour of the medal could be different after earning a semi-final match against China's sixth seed and giant killer Cai Yanyan.
In the quarter-finals played at the Among Rogo Arena the Indonesian badminton darling notched a straight games 21-10, 21-13 win over compatriot and roommate Aurum Oktavia Winata in 27 minutes. Mariska is seeded fourth in the world championships.
Yanyan pulled off a stunning upset when she toppled top seed and favourite Pattarasuda Chaiwan in the quarter-finals with a 21-19, 14-21, 22-20 win to reach the last four.
Also through to the last four are Malaysia's 2015 junior world champion Goh Jin Wei, who is seeded fourth, and China's Asian Junior Under-19 champion Han Yue. Jin Wei defeated another Thai Chananchida Jucharoen 21-12, 21-5 while Han Yue outplayed compatriot Zhou Meng 21-13, 21-10.
Thailand, however, stayed on course for the men's singles title with top seed and recently crowned Asian Junior Under-17 champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn making the last four after a 25-23, 21-16 win over Japan's Takuma Obayashi.
Kunlavut will face China's Gao Zhengze in the semi-finals. The Chinese ended European hope Nguyen Nhat of Ireland with a 18-21, 21-18, 21-7 win in 56 minutes.
Malaysia's Asian Junior Under-19 champion Leong Jun Hao also kept his challenge alive when he downed French challenger Christo Popov in straight games 21-14, 21-12 and will face Japan's Kodai Naraoka for a place in the final. The Japanese upset second seed Lakshya Sen of India 14-21, 21-17, 21-14 in a 63-minute battled.
In the mixed doubles Indonesia's third seeds Rehan Naufal Kushanjarto-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti won 18-21, 21-14, 21-15 against Ng Eng Cheong-Toh Ee Wei to enter the semi-finals.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS (SELECTED)
MEN'S SINGLES
Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) beat Takuma Obayashi (Jpn) 25-23, 21-16
Goa Zhengze (Chn) beat Nguyen Nhat (Ire) 18-21, 21-18, 21-7
Kodai Naraoka (Jpn) beat Lakshya Sen (Ind) 14-21, 21-17, 21-14
WOMEN'S SINGLES
Cai Yanyan (Chn) beat Pattarasuda Chaiwan (Tha) 21-19, 14-21, 22-20
Han Yue (Chn) beat Zhou Meng (Chn) 21-13, 21-10
Goh Jin Wei (Mas) beat Chananchia Jucharoen (Tha) 21-12, 21-5
Gregoria Mariska (Ina) beat Aurum Oktavia Winata (Ina) 21-10, 21-13
MEN'S DOUBLES
Mahiro Kaneko-Yunosuke Kubota (Jpn) beat Kwek Yee Jian-Man Wei Chong (Mas) 21-15, 26-24
MIXED DOUBLES
Rehan Naufal Kushanjarto-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Ina) beat Ng Eng Cheong-Toh Ee Wei (Mas) 18-21, 21-14, 21-15
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