The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Back-up shuttlers come to the rescue as Daren crashes out
- Jaded Peng Soon longs for a short break to get him raring again
- Tat Meng pleased with women’s progress
| Back-up shuttlers come to the rescue as Daren crashes out Posted: 02 May 2013 06:07 PM PDT It was a day of mixed fortunes for Malaysia when local hope Liew Daren crashed out while back-up shuttlers Goh Soon Huat and Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin assured the hosts a place in the men's singles final. The 25-year-old Daren was sent packing 10-21, 20-22 by Chen Yuekun of China in the men's singles quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara yesterday. Daren had a chance to turn things around towards the end of the second game but a hasty return at 20-21 saw the 23-year-old Chinese thrilled to bits at setting up a date with Indonesian Alamsyah Yunus in the semi-finals today. "This was my first meeting against him. I couldn't follow him in the first game and made lots of mistakes. I regained my momentum in the second game but did not have a good finishing," said Daren. While Daren was downcast, national coach Hendrawan's charges – Soon Huat and Iskandar – were jumping for joy after finally achieving breakthrough results. The 23-year-old Soon Huat, ranked 71st in the world, dumped seventh seed and All-England semi-finalist Tanongsak Saensom-boonsuk of Thailand 21-18, 21-13 in the third round and followed it up with another superb 21-17, 21-15 win over Chan Yan Kit in the last eight. "I grew confident after beating Tanongsak. The Thai is a strong attacking player but I'm good in defence. Today, I was able to rattle him," said Soon Huat. "I lost narrowly to Chan in the German Open but this time I was better prepared. To beat two higher ranked players in a day for the first time is certainly an achievement for me." Soon Huat was glad that all the hard work he has put in over the last four years under Hendrawan has paid off. "I've cried in pain after tough trainings and there have been frustrating moments after all the early knockouts all these years. Finally, there is a breakthrough ... hopefully, this will be the start of better things to come," he said. "I'll be up against team-mate Iskandar for the first time in an international tournament and I reckon it'll be a close affair as we know each other so well." Iskandar, who had beaten Lee Dong-keun of South Korea 21-12, 15-21, 21-19 in the third round and India's R.M.V. Gurusaidutt by default yesterday, was thrilled with his exploits. Gurusaidutt was trailing 19-21, 2-5 when he conceded a walkover due to an injury. "I've never reached the quarter-final of an Open tournament before. The win against the Korean was the turning point for me," said former World Junior runner-up Iskandar. "I am happy that Soon Huat and I have assured a ticket for Malaysia in the final. It can be anyone's game tomorrow (today)." Malaysia are also assured a place in the men's doubles final when top pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong set up a last four clash against former internationals Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari. Malaysia's interest in the women's doubles is still alive when Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo defeated Fu Mingtian-Shinta Mulia Sari of Singapore 21-15, 21-17 to set up a meeting with top seeds Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth-Rizki Amelia Pradipta of Indonesia. Results (Malaysians unless stated) *MEN'S SINGLES Third round: Chen Yuekun (Chn) bt Beryno Wong Jiann Tze 21-6, 21-7; R.M.V. Gurusaidutt (Ind) bt Riichi Takeshita (Jpn) 21-19, 21-16; Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin bt Lee Dong-keun (Kor) 21-12, 15-21, 21-19; Liew Daren bt K. Srikanth (Ind) 21-17, 22-20; Alamsyah Yunus (Ina) bt Chan Kwong Beng 21-16, 21-16; Wei Nan (Hkg) bt Derek Wong Zi Liang (Sin) 21-15, 21-16; Goh Soon Huat bt Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (Tha) 21-18, 21-13; Chan Yan Kit (Hkg) bt Sameer Varma (Ind) 21-15, 21-19. Quarter-finals: Goh Soon Huat bt Chan Yan Kit (Hkg) 21-17, 21-18; Chen Yuekun (Chn) bt Daren Liew 21-10, 22-20; Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin bt R.M.V. Gurusaidutt (Ind) 21-19, 5-2 rtd; Alamsyah Yunus (Ina) bt Wei Nan (Hkg) 21-18, 15-21, 22-20. *MEN'S DOUBLES Second round: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bt Ronald Alexander-Selvanus Geh (Ina) 21-16, 21-11; Bodin Issara-Pakkawat Vilailak (Tha) bt Takuto Inoue-Yuki Kaneko (Jpn) 21-17, 21-18; Andrei Adistia-Gideon Markus Fernaldi (Ina) bt Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han 21-19, 21-17; Alven Yulianto-Markis Kido (Ina) bt Maneepong Jongjit-Nipitphon Puangpuapech (Tha) 21-18, 22-20; Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari bt Hardi Hardianto-Agripinna Prima Rahmanto Putra (Ina) 22-20, 21-16; Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah bt Terry Hee-Terry Yeo Zhao Jiang (Sin) 21-15, 22-20; Chow Pak Chuu-Tan Bin Shen bt Gan Teik Chai-Ong Soon Hock 21-17, 24-22; Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong bt Chen Zhuofu-Kai Lu (Chn) 21-16, 21-19. Quarter-finals: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bt Bodin Isara-Pakkawat Vlailak (Tha) 21-16, 21-7; Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari bt Chow Pak Chu-Tan Bin Shen 25-27, 21-12, 21-12; Alven Yulianto-Markis Kido (Ina) bt Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong 21-15, 21-11; Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem bt Andrei Adistia-Gideon Markus Fernaldi (Ina) 14-21, 21-19, 21-18. *WOMEN'S SINGLES Second round: Hera Desi (Ina) bt Lydia Cheah 21-12, 21-17; Gu Juan (Sin) bt Maria Febe Kusumastuti (Ina) 21-17, 10-21, 21-18; Busanan Ongbumrungpan (Tha) bt Sarita Suwannakitborihan (Tha) 21-13, 21-11; Aya Ohori (Jpn) bt Nichaon Jindapon (Tha) 21-10, 21-19; Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) bt Yao Xue (Chn) 12-21, 21-15, 21-14; Tee Jing Yi bt Xing Aiying (Sin) 21-12, 21-17; Kana Ito (Jpn) bt Liang Xiaoyu (Chn) 21-16, 14-21, 21-12; P.V. Sindhu (Ind) bt Cheung Ngan Yi (Hkg) 11-21, 21-18, 21-10. Quarter-finals: P. V. Sindhu (Ind) bt Hera Desi (Ina) 21-17, 21-17; Busanan Ongbumrungpan (Tha) bt Kana Ito (Jpn) 21-18, 21-12; Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) bt Tee Jing Yi 22-20, 21-13; Gu Jun (Sin) bt Aya Ohori (Jpn) 15-21, 21-18, 21-19. *WOMEN'S DOUBLES Second round: Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella-Vita Marissa (Ina) bt Shella Devi Aulia-Khairunnisa Imma Muthiah (Ina) 21-18, 21-19; Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth-Rizki Amelia Pradipta (Ina) bt Payee Lim Peiy Yee-Lim Zhean Peiy 21-3, 21-6; Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean bt Soyoka Yamaguchi-Saya Yamamoto (Jpn) 21-9, 12-21, 21-14; Melati Daeva Oktaviani-Rosyita Eka Putri Sari (Ina) bt Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho 22-20, 21-17; Vanessa Neo Yu Yan-Yao Lei (Sin) bt Gu Juan-Liang Xiaoyu (Sin) 21-15, 21-10; Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo bt Luo Yu-Yaqiang Huang (Chn) 21-11, 13-21, 21-12; Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei bt Chochuwong Pornpawee-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) 21-11, 21-13; Fu Mingtian-Shinta Mulia Sari (Sin) bt Serithammarak Artima-Peeraya Munkitamorn (Tha) 21-14, 21-17. Quarter-finals: Vanessa New Yu Yan-Yao Lei (Sin) bt Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei 21-13, 13-21, 21-19; Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth-Rizki Amelia Pradipta (Ina) bt Chow Mei Kan-Lee Meng Yean 21-13, 21-18; Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo bt Fu Mingtian-Shinta Mulia Sari 21-15, 21-17; Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella-Vita Marissa (Ina) bt Melati Daeva Oktaviani-Rosyita Eka Putri Sari (Ina) 24-22, 21-9. *Mixed doubles Quarter-finals: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Kai Lu-Luo Yu (Chn) 21-12, 21-19; Praveen Jordan-Vita Marissa (Ina) bt Edi Subaktiar-Gloria Emanuelle Wijaja (Ina) 21-17, 21-16; Gideon Markus Fernaldi-Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella (Ina) bt Lukhi Apri Nughoro-Annisa Saufika (Ina) 21-19, 23-25, 21-15; Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing bt Chan Yun Lung-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) 25-27, 21-16, 21-18. |
| Jaded Peng Soon longs for a short break to get him raring again Posted: 02 May 2013 03:45 PM PDT Mixed doubles specialist Chan Peng Soon is hoping to regain his touch and motivation before two majors – Sudirman Cup (at Stadium Putra from May 19-26) and World Championships in Guangzhou, China (August). Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying moved a step closer to defending their mixed doubles crown when they checked into the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold with a 21-15, 22-20 win over Kai Lu-Luo Yu of China yesterday. Peng Soon-Liu Ying face the formidable Indonesian pair of Praveen Jordan-Vita Marissa next. Despite the win, something was clearly amiss in Peng Soon's game and he revealed that "I've been been struggling with a lack of motivation on court". Last week, world No. 5 Peng Soon-Liu Ying crashed out in the quarter-finals of the India Open. The 23-year-old Peng Soon is hoping that a short break after the Malaysian GP Gold will help him clear his mind and come back revitalised. "I think right now Liu Ying is playing well and I'm not. I don't have that drive to push myself on court," said Peng Soon. "Maybe Liu Ying and I have been playing in too many tournaments and I'm mentally tired. "My ultimate goal is to win a medal with Liu Ying at the world meet." But for now Peng Soon, who relishes playing in front of the home crowd, will try to regain his touch today. "I like crowd but this stadium is small and cannot accommodate many people. Anyway, I hope to play better. Liu Ying and I will not underestimate Praveen-Vita as they have made life difficult for some top pairs," he said. Malaysia will also have Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing in the semi-finals today after they fought tooth and nail for a 25-27, 21-16, 21-18 win over Hong Kong's Chan Yun Lung-Tse Ying Suet. Aik Quan-Pei Jing will face Indonesians Gideon Markus Fernaldi-Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella in the last four. In the men's doubles, second seeds Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei failed to make the semi-finals after losing 13-21, 21-13, 19-21 to Singaporeans Vanessa Neo Yu Yan-Yao Lei. |
| Tat Meng pleased with women’s progress Posted: 02 May 2013 06:09 PM PDT MALAYSIA's women's singles challenge ended when a gritty Tee Jing Yi bowed out 20-22, 13-21 to Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand in the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold. But national women's singles coach Wong Tat Meng was still a happy man. In the seven months since he took over, the women's singles shuttlers have been showing signs of revival – putting up spirited and confident displays on court. Prior to his arrival, and since the retirement of former international Wong Mew Choo in 2011, women's singles players used to make early exits in international tournaments, Now, he has players making the quarter-finals. Earlier, Jing Yi made it to the last eight after stunning Singapore's Xing Aiying 21-12, 21-17. Jing Yi and Sonia Cheah have also confirmed their tickets for the World Championships in Guangzhou in August. Malaysia did not have a single woman qualifier at the last edition in Wembley in 2011. Sonia has been beating higher-ranked players while her elder sister Lydia is no longer bugged by injuries. The other three women under his charge are Yang Li Lian, Lim Yin Fun and Lim Chiew Sien. Tat Meng believes that Malaysia has the talent to narrow the gap on women shuttlers from China, South Korea, Thailand, India, Japan, Indonesia. "Many countries have good women singles players now. Countries like Thailand, India, Japan and Indonesia have many young talents. Yes, we've been left behind but I believe that it won't be too long before we catch up with them," said Tat Meng. "So far, the results have been encouraging. I've got a dedicated bunch of players and am looking forward to more good results from them." The women's singles shuttlers will come under close scrutiny when Malaysia shift their attention to the Sudirman Cup, which will be held at Putra Stadium from May 19-26. Malaysia will either field Jing Yi or Sonia – depending on the strategy – in the world mixed team event. |
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