Chan Ho Yuen Daniel’s last international match will be on the biggest stage of his life, and that too against defending champion Daiki Kajiwara who has been unbeaten over the last three years.

Before their semifinals today, Kajiwara told Daniel that he’d like to play him in the final as it was his last match.

“Daiki came to me and said your last opponent has to be me,” Daniel revealed after he’d overcome Korea’s Yu Sooyoung in the semifinals to make his first Paralympic final. At Tokyo 2020, the Hong Kong China player had fallen at the same and had to settle for a bronze medal playoff.

While Daniel weathered an early challenge from Yu (23-21 21-10), Kajiwara himself won a replay of the Tokyo 2020 final against four-time world champion Kim Jung Jun, 21-17 21-9.

“Kajiwara was very confident that he could get into the final, and he did it. So he wished me to get into the final also. I felt fully respected by him. So we had to hook up in the final and I’m so happy.

“I was nervous but I pretended not to be. Especially in the first game, I kept telling myself: ‘After an hour I will be the finalist’. When I faced two game points, I kept telling myself I would be the one to win.”

As important as making the final was, Daniel also had a point to prove – that at 39, age wasn’t a barrier to overcoming challenges.

“I had to stay patient. People were always saying Kim Jung Jun is 44 and Daniel is 39, so the youngsters will get the whole world. But I’m proving that’s not the case. Today I kept my patience and I proved that my fitness and endurance were better to him. I finished him with my power and endurance, so I proved that even though you’re old, ability is not equal to your age. You can be better if you want.”

What will it take to beat reigning world and Olympic champion Kajiwara in the final?

“I will let my officials punch him off the court… That’s a good tactic, right?” Daniel joked. “Just kidding. I have nothing to lose. I have lost many times to him. With the wind (in the hall), maybe… let’s see what happens.”

Other Highlights

» Yu Sooyoung, who lost the WH1 semifinals, could look forward to his men’s doubles final later in the day, when he competes with Jeong Jaegun against reigning champions Mai Jianpeng and Qu Zimo.

» Vitor Tavares is within one win of becoming the first Brazilian to medal in badminton at the Olympics or Paralympics. The men’s singles SH6 player, who lost the bronze playoff in Tokyo 2020, made the semifinals again, beating fellow Pan Am player Miles Krajewski (USA) in a thriller, 21-12 10-21 23-21.

» In the Wheelchair events, defending champions Qu Zimo (MS, WH1), Sarina Satomi (WS, WH1) and Liu Yutong (WS, WH2) made their second straight Paralympic finals.

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