Bangkok: Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong stormed into Thailand Open finals Saturday with a 21-19, 17-21, 21-16 win over 2015 SEA Games champions and No. 2 seeds Angga Pratama/Ricky Karanda Suwardi of Indonesia in a grueling contest that lasted 52 minutes.
Despite tough challenges from Angga Pratama/Ricky Karanda Suwardi in the first set, Koo/Tan looked poised, several times, to take the first set in their favor. With their relentless attacking, the Indonesians took control after 10-10 in the second set, and held on for a second set victory. Koo Kien Keat/ Tan Boon Heong upped their level and displayed impressive form to lead the charge and eventually wrapped up the third-set win against their Indonesian opponents. Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong will play another Indonesian pair No. 5 seeds Wahyu Nayaka Arya Pankaryanira/Ade Yusuf for the men’s doubles title.
Singapore’s Liang Xiaoyu pulled off the biggest upset of the day when she dashed women’s No. 1 seed of Thailand, Ratchnok Intanon’s hope of retaining the title she won in 2013. The Singaporean showed her agility to overcome the former World Champion 22-20, 13-21, 21-17 in 67 minutes. Liang will play No. 2 seed Sung Ji Hyun of Korea in the finals. Sung defeated No. 3 Sun Yu of China 21-10, 21-18 to book her place in the finals.
Ihsan Maulana Mustofa who defeated No. 1 seed Son Wan Ho in the quarter-finals, continued his winning form in Bangkok as he brushed aside Jeon Hyeok Jin of Korea 21-15, 21-17 to reach the men’s singles finals.
Proving he still has what it takes to win a championships, 35 year-old No. 4 seed Lee Hyun Il raised his game and defied his age with an incredible performance at the Thailand Open semi-finals, defeating No. 7 seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka 21-17, 21-13 to set up a clash with Ihsan Maulana Mustofa next.
Mixed doubles No. 3 seeds Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto of Indonesia notched a straight sets win against top seeds Ko Sung Hyun/Kim Ha Na as they will play Choi Solgyu/Eom Hye Won of Korea in the finals on Sunday.
Two unseeded pairs, Huang Dongping/Li Yinhui of China and Chang Ye Na/Lee So Hee of Korea will meet for the first time on Sunday in their bid for the Thailand Open women’s doubles title.
