M’sian top pair in doubles final

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s top seeded pair Koo Kean Keat-Tan Boon Heong gave the home fans some anxious moments before reaching the Proton Malaysian Open final after beating Chinese pair Chai Biao-Zhang Nan 21-19, 16-21, 21-15 in the semi-finals at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil here yesterday.

Kean Keat-Boon Heong who encountered tough resistance from the unknown pair, had to dig deep into their reserves, before clinching the deciding set 21-15 and set up a final date with another Chinese pair – Guo Zhendong-Xu Chen – who beat Indonesian pair Alvent Yulianto Chandra-Hendra Gunawan 13-21, 21-13, 21-13.

“My condition was not up to the mark as I made several simple mistakes in the first and second sets. But, in the rubber set, I made amends with my playing style,” said Boon Heong.

Kean Keat said they would try to clinch their second Malaysian Open title since 2007 when facing the Chinese pair today.

In the women’s doubles semi-finals, the country’s top pair Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, playing as third seeds, were stopped by favourites Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli of China in straight sets.

Ma Jin-Wang, the world number one, advanced with a 20-22, 21-12, 21-17 win to set up an all-Chinese women’s double final today.

Their opponents in the final will be Du Jing-Yu Yang who beat South Korean pair Jung Kyung Eun-Yoo Hyun Young 21-11, 21-13. — Bernama

In the mixed doubles final, unseeded Tao Jiaming-Zhang Yawen of China face Thomas Laybourn-Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark. – Bernama