Sydney: Concluding the day’s action on States Sports Centre in Sydney, Australia, two Malaysian pairs crashed out of the tournament leaving unseeded Malaysian pair Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong the sole doubles survivor.
On Friday, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong’s sensation run was ended by Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong of Korea. Goh/Tan lost their first set 21-15 to Lee-Yoo easily, but was able to give the Korean a run for their money before losing the second set 24-22.
The mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Lai Pei Jing had no answer to the searing Thailand pair Sudket Prapakamol-T. Saralee to crash out with 11-21, 15-21 in just 36 minutes.
Fortunately, the unseeded Malaysian pair Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong managed to fend off a spirited challenge from reigning Singapore Open champion China’s Cai Yun-Kai Lu, win a 23-21, 21-16 win in a 47-minutes. The 2004 former world junior champions will set up a semi-final showdown with South Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong.
In last months’ Thomas Cup’s Group C tie against Korea, Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong lost to the Korean 19-21, 19-21. Hoon/Tan will definitely be seeking revenge this time around.
“I don’t really pay too much attention to the head-to-head records between us and the Korean. We just want to go out and play our best tomorrow,” said Boon Heong.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles semi-finals, Lin Dan will play Tian Houwei, and Tommy Sugiarto will face off against Simon Santoso.
