Japan's disbanding women's badminton doubles pair Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama, the Paris Olympics bronze medalists, reached the semifinals at the Japan Open on Friday after edging past the South Korean pair of Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong in three games.Shida and Matsuyama, who on July 8 announced they will part ways after the world championships in the French capital next month, advanced at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium after coming from behind to win 19-21, 21-19, 21-18."I was intent on never backing off mentally," said Shida after she and her partner won three straight points from…READ FULL ARTICLE
