Kang-Lee Pair Upset World No. 17, Advance to Korea Open Semifinals
The Chosun Ilbo · OSEN ·
Kang-Lee Pair Upset World No. 17, Advance to Korea Open Semifinals Newly formed duo defeats Japanese pair with seven straight points, reaches first Super 500 semifinal
[OSEN=Yeosu, Ko Seong-hwan Reporter] It is a rebellion by the world No. 173. The Kang Min-hyuk-Lee Jong-min pair (Samsung Life Insurance), who newly teamed up just last month, caused a major upset by defeating the world No. 17 Japanese pair. In the final game, they showcased their resilience by scoring an impressive seven consecutive points, securing their spot in the semifinals of the Korea Open.
The world No. 173 Kang Min-hyuk-Lee Jong-min pair defeated Kumagai Kakeru-Nishi Hiroki (world No. 17) 2-1 (21-17, 8-21, 21-10) in the men’s doubles quarterfinals of the 2026 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Korea Open (Super 500) held at the Jinnam Gymnasium in Yeosu, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City on the 6th, advancing to the semifinals.
Objectively, the Japanese pair held the advantage. Kumagai-Nishi were seeded seventh in this tournament. They are a formidable team, having reached the quarterfinals at the July Chinese Open (Super 1000) and the October Denmark Open (Super 750) this year. Kumagai’s left-handed rear attacks and Nishi’s swift net play as a right-hander are particularly powerful.
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