
Kuala Lumpur: Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia held the 2017 World Champions Zhang Nan/Liu Cheng of China at bay in a gripping contest on Friday to reach the last four of the Malaysia Masters and stayed on course for their first crown of the 2018 season.
The former world number one Malaysians needed 58 minutes to see off a spirited challenge from the much-hyped No. 3 seeds Chinese pair 12-21, 21-18, 21-18 in front of a boisterous home crowd to become the only men’s pair from the host country through to the last four at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur Sports City.
“We haven’t play them in a while, and we were not used to their playing style in the first set,” said Tan after the match.
“We were more confident once we figured out their tactics,” added Tan.
The unseeded Goh/Tan are set to play No. 8 seeds Chen Hung Ling/Wang Chi-Lin of Taiwan on Saturday. The Taiwanese pair defeated compatriots Liao Min Chun/Su Ching Heng 21-19, 21-19 in other quarter-final.
In mixed doubles, No. 8 seeds Malaysian pair Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai were scratchy at the start of the both sets but were quickly into the groove mid-way through the games by beating Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing 21-14, 21-15 in 43 minutes.
Goh/Lai will face No. 2 seeds Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong in the semi-finals.
Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet, on the other hand, notched up an easy victory against another Malaysian pair, Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying 21-13, 21-16.