National elite shuttler Daren edges Jorgensen to move into the final

National elite shuttler Liew Daren (pic) is now just one step away from achieving the breakthrough he has been craving for all these years after marching into the final of the French Open in Paris.
Daren, who qualified for his first-ever semi-final of a Super Series event by beating Japan’s Sho Sasaki 21-17, 21-18 on Friday, gave another smashing show yesterday to oust sixth seed Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark 18-21, 21-17, 21-10.

This will be Daren’s first-ever final appearance and it is evident that he is slowly coming out of world No.1 Lee Chong Wei’s shadow.

And Daren could well go on and win his first title when he faces former world junior champion Viktor Axelsen in today’s final.

The 18-year-old Dane had earlier outclassed fifth seed Kenichi Tago of Japan 21-8, 21-17 in the other semi-final.

But the day definitely belonged to Daren, who continued to show great hunger and determination en route to ousting Jorgensen.

Daren did not get the start he must have wished for as the steady Jorgensen dictated the early pace to take game 21-18.

But Daren, who recently reached a career-high world No. 24 in the ranking, stepped up a gear to win the second game before taking full control of the decider – leading 11-4 and 13-9 at one point.

He only allowed Jorgensen another point before wrapping up the match.

In yesterday’s other semi-final matches, rising Japanese youngster Mitani Minatsu stunned her older compatriot Eriko Hirose 21-19, 21-10 to make the final of the women’s singles event.

The top seeded women’s pair of Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl also made the final by beating third seeds Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito of Japan 24-22, 21-18.