Kuala Lumpur: It was mixed fortunes for the Malaysia team on Thursday at the ongoing Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters Badminton Championships held at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Malaysia’s campaign in the men’s doubles ended on a disappointing note after both Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong and Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong fizzled out in quarter-finals.
Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong were looking for repeat performance as they’ve defeated South Koreans Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang at Malaysia Masters 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, both Koo/Tan simply had no answer to Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang’s high flying offenses, going down to the Koreans 10-21, 12-21 in 25 minutes.
While Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong fought hard to claim the first set, No.1 seeds Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia were in control to hold off the Malaysian pair 19-21, 21-16, 21-13 to set up a semi-final clash with No. 3 seeds Ko Sung Hyun/Shin Baek Cheol of Korea on Friday.
Fortunately, the Malaysian’s women’s doubles and mixed doubles pairs were able to deliver some good news for their country. Women’s doubles No. 4 seeds Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei were trailed 19-20 in the opening set before mounting a comeback to steal the game 22-20 from Puttita Supajirakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand. Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei then fought back from a set down to beat the Thailand pair 11-21, 21-9 in second and third set. Two very tough opponents Tang Yuanting/Yu Yang from China are awaiting Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei in the semi-final.
The World No. 13 and No. 7 seeds mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying cruised into the semi-final with a straight-sets win over another pair from the host country, Puavaranukroh Dechapol/Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-15, 21-16.
In men’s singles, No. 1 seed both Lee Hyun Il and No. 2 seed Son Wan Ho of Korea remain on course for a finals showdown after winning their respective quarter-finals on Thursday.
Lee Hyun-il who beat Hong Kong’s Wei Nan 21-18, 21-13, and will meet Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in the semi-finals. While awaiting Son in the last four is the third seed Hu Yun from Hong Kong.
Women’s singles second seed Ratchanok Intanon who is widely favored to win the tournament, defeated compatriot Nitchaon Jindapol 21-14, 21-14 to set up a semi-final date with South Korean third seed Sung Ji Hyun.
Sun Yu of China and Busanan Ongbumrungphan of Thailand will square off in the other women’s singles semi-final.
