Korea Masters 2024: Kiran George defeats Takuma Obayashi to enter semis
India’s Kiran George secured a convincing 21-14, 21-16 victory against Japan’s fifth seed Takuma Obayashi to reach the semi-finals of the men’s singles competition at the 2024 Korea Masters badminton tournament in Iksan City, Republic of Korea, on Friday.
The 24-year-old Kiran George, ranked 41st in badminton, took 39 minutes to defeat the world No. 34 Japanese player in the BWF Super 300 tournament quarter-finals.
The Indian appeared dominant from the start, racing to a 5-1 lead and maintaining his edge to win the first game.
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In the second game, the players traded leads multiple times. However, George, the only Indian badminton player participating in South Korea, secured the last four points to ensure his place in his first semi-finals this year.
Tougher challenge awaits Kiran
Kiran George, who shocked the third seed Chi Yu Jen from Chinese Taipei in the round of 16 on Thursday, will face Paris 2024 Olympics silver winner and top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Kiran George and Kunlavut Vitidsarn have faced each other on two occasions previously. Vitidsarn defeated George at the Indonesia Masters in January this year, while the Indian player’s win occurred at the Malaysia International Series in 2017.
Having claimed victory at the Odisha Open in 2022 and the Indonesia Masters in 2023, both Super 100 tournaments, Kiran George aims to secure his inaugural BWF Super 300 title.
