Ipoh: Malaysia’s doubles specialist Chan Peng Soon enjoyed a double joy on the final day of Perak Open, where he won both the mixed doubles title and the men’s doubles title.
Chan Peng Soon and Ng Hui Lin faced top seed Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing in the mixed doubles final. Chan-Ng took the first set 21-18, went down 19-21 to Tan-Lai in the second set, but fought back to beat Tan-Lai in the decider 21-13 to capture the Perak Open title in 58 minutes.
While some people may considered Chan Peng Soon-Ng Hui Lin’s victory over Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing was a lucky upset, and repeating the effort seemed even more unlikely. Yet the 26 year-old and his men’s doubles partner Teo Kok Siang once again found a rich seam of aggressions and speed to upset the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalists Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong 21-16, 21-19 in 33 minutes. Meanwhile, Ng Hui Lin also took home the women’s doubles crown with Vivian Hoo by dispatching Amelia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho 21-14, 21-15 in 35 minutes.
In men’s singles final, Daren Liew survived a thrilling encounter against Goh Soon Huat to triumph at the Perak Open. The 27-year-old Daren Liew was given a stern test by Soon Huat, he was forced to dig deep to see off Soon Huat 17-21, 21-14, 22-20 in 77 minutes to win the Perak Open title.
In the action packed decider, Soon Huat rallied back from 10-14 to level the score at 15-15, then cruised to a commanding 20-17 lead over Daren. However, Daren kept his cool under pressure to reel off the next five points to clinch his first local title.
“Soon Huat played with remarkable poise and caused a lot of problems for me today, fortunately I was able to stay calm to win the match,” said Daren.
While disappointed for Soon Huat, he insisted he will learn from this experience.
“I kept fighting for every point even after I hurt my wrist by taking a fall and hurting my wrist in the decider,” said Soon Huat.
“I think the pressure also got me a bit, that’s why I couldn’t finish off the match. I will learn from this mistake,” added Soon Huat.
18-year-old Ho Yen Mei pulled off another upset of the day when she edged top seed Yang Li Lian 23-21, 19-21, 21-12 to claim the women’s singles Perak Open title.
