Macau: Malaysia enjoyed a productive day at the Macau Open as men’s singles player Eogene Ewe and five doubles pairs booked their places in the quarterfinals of the Super 300 badminton tournament.
The Macau Open, offering a total prize purse of US$370,000, moved into the last-16 stage on Thursday, with Malaysia finding success across men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Eogene Ewe kept Malaysia’s men’s singles hopes alive after winning an all-Malaysian clash against independent shuttler Cheam June Wei. The national team youngster stayed steady throughout the contest and secured a 21-15, 21-15 victory to move into the last eight.
The win sends Eogene into a tougher quarterfinal test against Singapore’s second seed Jason Teh Jia Heng. It will be an important opportunity for the Malaysian to measure his progress against one of the higher-ranked players left in the draw.
Eogene Ewe Stands Alone in Men’s Singles
Eogene is now Malaysia’s only remaining men’s singles representative at the Macau Open.
Another Malaysian independent player, Huan Kai Hern, was unable to join him in the quarterfinals after losing 10-21, 9-21 to Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen.
Kantaphon will next face Chinese Taipei’s Wang Yu-Kai, while China has already secured at least one men’s singles semifinal spot through a quarterfinal meeting between Hu Zhe An and Dong Tian Yao. In another last-eight match, Hong Kong’s top seed Angus Ng Ka Long will take on Indonesia’s Muhamad Yusuf.
Goh Jin Wei Retires in Women’s Singles
Malaysia’s women’s singles challenge ended in unfortunate fashion after Goh Jin Wei retired from her second-round match against India’s Anmol Kharb.
Goh, ranked world No. 57, appeared physically uncomfortable and moved slowly during the match. Trailing 4-12 in the opening game, she decided to withdraw, allowing the world No. 51 Indian player to advance to the quarterfinals.
In the upper half of the women’s singles draw, South Korea’s top seed Kim Ga Eun will face compatriot Kim Min Ji, while Anmol Kharb will meet China’s fourth seed Han Qian Xi.
In the lower half, Thailand’s second seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan will face South Korea’s Park Ga Eun, while another Korean player, Kim Min Sun, will take on India’s Ashmita Chaliha.
Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing Reach Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals
Malaysia’s independent mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing delivered one of the most efficient wins of the day.
The world No. 113 pair needed only 24 minutes to defeat Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Kai Wen and Liu Chiao-Yun 21-13, 21-12.
Hoo and Lai controlled the match from the start and gave their opponents little chance to settle. Their reward is a quarterfinal meeting with South Korea’s Cho Song Hyun and Jeong Na Eun.
However, two other Malaysian mixed doubles pairs exited in the last 16.
Liew Xun and Ho Lo Ee pushed China’s fourth seeds Zhu Yi Jun and Li Qian to three games before losing 21-16, 12-21, 19-21. Low Han Chen and Chan Wen Tse also bowed out after falling 20-22, 16-21 to China’s top seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin.
Malaysia Guaranteed Men’s Doubles Semifinalist
Malaysia’s men’s doubles campaign remained strong, with three pairs reaching the quarterfinals and one semifinal place already guaranteed.
Top seeds Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong came through an all-Malaysian battle against Boon Xin Yuan and Lwi Sheng Hao, winning 21-17, 22-20.
They will next face another Malaysian pair, Low Hang Yee and Ng Eng Cheong, who defeated Singapore’s Wesley Koh Eng Keat and Junsuke Kubo 21-18, 21-14.
That quarterfinal clash means Malaysia is assured of at least one representative in the men’s doubles semifinals.
Chia Wei Jie and Teo Ee Yi also kept their run alive after producing a strong comeback against China’s second seeds Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi.
The Malaysian pair lost a tight opening game 23-25 but responded well to take the next two games 21-16, 21-13. They will face Chinese Taipei’s Wei Chun Wei and Yang Po Chih in the quarterfinals.
Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting Advance in Women’s Doubles
Malaysia also had success in women’s doubles through second seeds Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting.
The Malaysian pair defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chou Yun An and Sung Yi-Hsuan 21-13, 21-17 to reach the quarterfinals.
Ong and Ting handled the match with good control, winning the opening game comfortably before staying composed in the second to finish the job in straight games.
They will next face South Korea’s Kim Hye Jeong and Moon In Seo for a place in the semifinals.
Malaysia Builds Strong Quarterfinal Presence in Macau
With Eogene Ewe advancing in men’s singles and five Malaysian doubles pairs also through, the Macau Open has produced encouraging badminton news for Malaysia.
The strongest momentum remains in men’s doubles, where Malaysia has already guaranteed one semifinal spot. Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing, Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting, and Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi will also look to extend their campaigns in Friday’s quarterfinals.
For Eogene, the next match against Jason Teh Jia Heng will be a major test, but his win over Cheam June Wei has already made him Malaysia’s last standing men’s singles hope in Macau.
