Taiwan’s Tien-chen continues to dominate in Japan

Stretch: Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen returning a shot to India’s H.S. Prannoy during the quarter-final match of the Japan Open in Osaka. — AFP

PETALING JAYA: World Championships bronze medallist Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan continued his good form in the Land of the Rising Sun when he survived a thrilling battle against India’s H.S. Prannoy to reach the last four of the Japan Open.

World No. 6 Tien-chen, who had created history by becoming the first Taiwanese to win a medal in the men’s singles event at the recent world meet in Tokyo, had to dig deep into his reserves to overcome Prannoy (No. 18) 21-17, 15-21, 22-20 in a match lasting 80 minutes in Osaka yesterday.