PETALING JAYA: National mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei stormed into the 2024 Korea Open final after defeating Chinese pair Zhang Chi-Cheng Xing 22-20, 21-19 in their semi-final match in Mokpo, Seoul, this morning.
In their first-ever clash at an international tournament, the Malaysian world No 9 pair took about 45 minutes to dispose of Zhang and Cheng, who are ranked world No 31.
In the final tomorrow, Tang Jie-Ee Wei will play unranked Chinese scratch pair Guo Xin Wa-Qian Li, who upset South Korea’s world No 8 Kim Won Ho-Jeong Na Eun 21-14, 22-24, 21-10 in the other semi-final
This is the Malaysian pair’s first final in a BWF World Tour Super 500 series. To date, they have entered four Super 300 Series finals.
They won the Orleans Masters and Taipei Open last year and finished runners-up at the Thailand Masters and Swiss Open earlier this year.
In today’s match, Tang Jie-Ee Wei came from behind in the first game to forge ahead at 19-18 but the Chinese pair levelled the game and took game point. The gutsy Malaysians survived two game points and won 22-20 in 21 minutes.
In the second game, Tang Jie-Ee Wei took an early lead and surged ahead to a 11-4 lead at the break. They went ahead 15-10 but Zhang Chi-Cheng Xing fought back with some power play to try and force a rubber game.
They even took a 19-18 lead but the Malaysians levelled the score before taking the second game 21-19 in 24 minutes.
