KUCHING: Tournament’s top seed Derek Wong Zi Liang of Singapore will meet Indonesian challenger, Ivanuddin Rifan Fauzin in the semifinal of the ongoing Maybank Malaysia Kuching International Challenge Badminton Championship.
Wong survived a scare in the men’s singles quarterfinals of yesterday before recovering to beat Malaysia’s Chong Yee Han in three sets 16-21, 25-23 and 21-11.
Ivanuddin got past another Malaysian shuttler Soo Teck Zhi 21-15, 21-15 to earn the semifinal berth.
Second seed Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif booked his spot after beating Indonesia’s Ginting Anthony 21-8, 21-15 in 29 minutes and will meet fourth seed, Ashton Chen Yong Zhao today.
The men’s doubles saw Malaysia securing two of the semi-finals spots where qualifiers Chooi Kah Ming-Teo Ee Yi continued their fine run and toppled compatriots Goh V Shem-Teo Kok Siang, seeded sixth, 23-21, 21-16 and fifth seeds Lim Khim Wah-Ow Yao Han beat another Malaysian pair of Mohd Razif Abdul Latif-Muhammad Hafiz Hashim 23-21, 21-14 in the quarterfinals.
Chooi-Teo will play Lim-Ow for the place in the final.
Seventh seeds Selvanus Geh-Alfian Eko Prasetya of Indonesia are in the last four after defeating Malaysia’s Jagdish Sing-Roni Tan Wee Long 21-17, 21-17. They will meet Lu Ching Yao (Chinese Taipei) and Mak Hee Chun (Malaysia) who upstaged second seeds from Vietnam, Duong Bao Duc and Nguyen Hoang Nam 21-18, 21-14.
There were no Malaysian representatives in the women’s singles semi-finals after giant slayer, Lee Ying Ying was unable to continue with her good run, losing 14-21, 12-21 to Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po.
Fourth seed Li Lian Yang went down fighting 21-23, 16-21 to Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia Hsin, the fifth seed and Lim Chiew Sien bowed out to Chinese Taipei’s Han Hung Shih 20-22, 11-21.
In today’s semi-finals, Pai will take on Lee while Hsu will play Han for their places in the final.
There was some cheer for the Malaysian camp in the women’s doubles after top seeds Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho had little difficulty in overcoming Indonesian pair of Lya Ersalita-Masita Mahmudin 21-10, 21-15.
They will next meet Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota after the Japanese pair dumped Malaysia’s Lee Meng Yean-Lim Yin Loo 21-10, 21-16.
In the other semi-final, Malaysian qualifiers Chow Mei Kuan and Shevon Jemie Lai, who beat Vietnam’s Le Thu Huyen and Pham Nhu Thao 21-18, 21-12, will take on Kugo Asumi and Yui Miyachi from Japan after the latter upset second seeds from Indonesia Melati Daeva Oktaviani-Rosyita Eka Putri Sari 21-16, 21-11 in the quarterfinals.
The mixed doubles competition saw top seeds Ong Jian Guo-Lim Yin Loo from Malaysia marching into the semi-finals after defeating Indonesia’s Rian Swastedian-Masita Mahmudin 21-10, 21-17.
Their semi-final opponents are Alfian Eko Prasetya and Shendy Puspa Irawati from Indonesia who beat Malaysia’s Wong Fai Yin-Chow Mei Kuan 21-15, 21-13.
The tussle for the other final spot will be between fourth seeds Mohd Lufti Zaim-Amelia Alicia Ancelly from Malaysia and second seeds from Chinese Taipei, Wang Chi-Lin and WumTi Jung.