Only doubles pair makes it to final
Published on: Sunday, January 20, 2019
By: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Only two out of the 10 Malaysian players who qualified for the semi-finals managed to move into the finals of the Malaysian Masters at the Axiata Arena, here, Saturday.
Men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi defeated their national teammates Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 21-6, 18-21, 21-19 to progress.
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In the other semi-final, Indonesian pair Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo denied an all-Malaysian final when they edged out Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong 21-18, 24-22.
Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying also fell on the wayside as they were outplayed by Japanese pair Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino 15-21, 21-7, 14-21.
And it was an unfortunate end for men’s singles shuttler Liew Darren, who had to pull out of the tournament even before the match started due to a foot injury, allowing South Korea’s Son Wan-ho a free pass into the final.
The gallant run of unseeded Goh Jin Wei in the women’s singles ended when she fell 16-21, 16-21 to former world No.1 Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand.
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Jin Wei was clearly disappointed with herself for not being able to repeat her giant-killing feat from the previous rounds, where she knocked out seeded players Akane Yamaguchi of Japan and He Bingjiao of China.
“I did not play as well as I did yesterday. Maybe I was in too much of a hurry and lost focus.
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“My focus now is on next week’s Indonesia Masters. I will work on my weaknesses,” said Jin Wei.
Ratchanok, meanwhile, will take on Spain’s Carolina Marin in the final. The Spaniard beat India’s Sania Nehwal 21-16, 21-13 in the other semi-final.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying attributed their loss to the Japanese pair to “a loss of focus, failed strategy and dropped points due to errors”.
“Their coach (Jeremy Gan) used to train us, so they knew our playing style,” said Liu Ying.
Top seeds Watanabe-Higashino will take on Thailand’s Dechapol-Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the mixed doubles final.
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