Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s unseeded men’s pair Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong will meet another unseeded pair, Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia in the final of the 2018 Malaysia Masters after both won their semi-final matches in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
Goh/Tan beat No. 8 seeds Chen Hung Ling/Wang Chi-lin of Taiwan 21-16, 21-17 in 34 minutes while Alfian/Ardianto came from a set down to eventually beat No. 5 seeds Mads Conrad-Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding of Denmark 15-21, 21-16, 21-17 in 65 minutes.
“Win over the world champions Zhang Nan/Liu Cheng yesterday was a confidence boost, we played well today, hopefully we can play better in the final tomorrow,” said Goh.
When asked about if they would try to seal their first crown in more than a year since winning the 2016 Dubai Super Series Finals, Tan Wee Kiong told reporters that they wouldn’t think too far ahead.
“We will be focused in the final, and play the way we’re supposed to be playing,” said Tan.
“I have seen how the Indonesian pair play, they are quick and competitive, we cannot underestimate them,” added Tan.
Meanwhile, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark will take on Kenta Nishimoto from Japan in the men’s singles final.
Axelsen outlasted former Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) player Daren Liew 21-15, 21-11, while Nishimoto overcame Hans-Christian Solberg Vittinghus of Denmark 21-14, 21-19 in other men’s singles semi-final.
“Daren was playing well and I was a little bit under pressure because of the drift. But I’m happy I managed to win,” said Axelsen.
“Nishimoto was able to defeat Lee Chong Wei in the first round, therefore, I am not going underestimate him in the final,” added Axelsen.
In the mixed doubles competition, Malaysia’s Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai put up a spirited fight but were defeated by No. 2 seeds Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong, losing 21-14, 12-21, 13-21.
The Hong Kong pair will take on No. 5 seeds Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong of China in the final.
