DXB said in a statement that airport 'recovery will take some time' after there was flooding caused by rainwater on the runway
Top-ranked Tai Tzu-ying pushed through a challenging second set to clinch a 21-8, 23-21 victory against Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt and move into the finals of badminton’s Thailand Open.
The Taiwanese player made a strong start, but Blichfeldt’s strong defence caused her problems.
“In the second game, the speed of the shuttle was different down that end and I had to adapt to that,” said Tai.
She said she would need to bring her A-game on Sunday when she faces Spain’s Carolina Marin, a former world number one, in the final.
Earlier in the day, the Spaniard trounced South Korean teenager An Se-young 21-16, 21-16.
“I didn’t feel any negative situation for myself, and I think if I play like this, I’m so ready for tomorrow,” she said.
The Thailand Open is the first of three consecutive tournaments in Bangkok culminating in the World Tour Finals from January 27.
Flown in a week before the start for quarantine and testing, the players are facing off in a bio-secure “bubble”, with no spectators allowed.
The tournament has been overshadowed by the positive cases for Egyptian mixed doubles player Adham Hatem Elgamal, a German coach and a French staff member.
Elgamal, who had to drop out on the first day and was moved to a hospital, took to Instagram on Saturday to raise doubts about his initial test results.
He told AFP that since arriving in Thailand, subsequent tests had shown negative results.
“They made a mistake, and I am paying for this mistake because I missed the tournament, and I am ok with this but I want to go back to Egypt,” Elgamal told AFP.
“Why am I not allowed to go back if I am OK and I tested negative?”
But doctor Piyaja Nagavajara explained that Elgamal had tested positive on the PCR test, which is the highest standard.
A subsequent antibody test indicated a “recent infection” and a chest x-ray led a team of doctors to conclude that a “viral infection went to his lungs”.
“I think the problem is a miscommunication or maybe we don’t have an effective translator,” Piyaja told AFP.
DXB said in a statement that airport 'recovery will take some time' after there was flooding caused by rainwater on the runway
The 22-time Grand Slam title winner was returning to action for the first time after missing most of the 2023 season
For the company's founders, it was a way to give back to the community
Unlocking Holistic Health: Camp to address all acute and chronic issues
Pizza Di Rocco expands into new communities
World No 3 focused on winning in Stuttgart, Madrid or Rome to get a title on the surface under her belt
Roads were shut and stern warnings were issued as the country experienced extreme weather conditions
The game’s rising stars and DP World Tour winners will be in action over the next four days at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club