Danes Advance to Singles Final

Denmark’s Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen advanced to the finals in men’s singles of the U.S. Open Badminton Championship with a 16-17, 15-11, 15-2 victory over China’s Yigang Luo, Friday at the Orange County Badminton Club.

Hoyer-Larsen, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist, is ranked fourth in the world and will meet countryman Peter Gade Christensen in tonight’s finals. Christensen advanced with a 15-9, 15-8 victory over Jeron van Dijk of the Netherlands.

In women’s singles Denmark’s Camilla Martin, the world’s fifth-ranked player, easily defeated China’s Jinga Han, 11-3, 11-3, in their semifinal match. Martin, who has not given up more than five points in a single game this week, will face China’s Yun Dai in the finals. Dai advanced with an 11-7, 12-9 victory over Sweden’s Marina Andrievskaya.

The finals will begin at 5 tonight. The winner of the men’s singles will earn $13,000, with the women’s champion taking home $10,000.