Axelsen reaches Japan Open final, faces Lee Chong Wei
Newly crowned world champion from Denmark blazes past South Korean world No 1 Son to earn a final meeting with Malaysian superstar in Tokyo

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen defeated world number one Son Wan-Ho in the men’s singles semi-finals at the Japan Open on Saturday.
Axelsen, who beat two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China to clinch the world title in Glasgow last month, overpowered South Korea’s Son with a 21-16, 21-16 win.
He now faces Malaysian Lee Chong Wei who has won the Japan Open six times. Lee booked a spot in the final after a 21-19, 21-8 win over China’s Shi Yuqi.

In the women’s singles, Spain’s Carolina Marin, Olympic gold medallist last year, reached the final as Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara dropped out from the semi-finals due to knee trouble.
Marin faces China’s He Bingjiao who beat Chen Yufei 21-14, 25-23.