Ho Chi Minh City: Malaysia’s World No. 37 mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing showed their never-say-die spirit as they rallied past No. 6 seeds Taiwanese pair Chang Ko chi-Chang Hsin Tien 27-25, 19-21, 21-4 to advance to the Vietnam Open semi-finals.
“Honestly, both of us did not play well, I felt that we put too much pressure on ourselves,” said Lai Pei Jing.
“Fortunately, our opponents made too many mistakes in the decider to allow us to put away an easy victory in the third set,” added Lai.
The No. 3 seeds will play Hafiz Faisal/Shella Devi Aulia of Indonesia in semi-finals on Saturday.
In men’s doubles, Low Juan Shen/Chooi Kah Ming who shocked No. 7 seeds Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Markis Kido of Indonesia 20-22, 21-16, 21-18 on Thursday, could not continue their momentum by losing to compatriots and former World No. 1 pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong 7-21, 21-18, 19-21 in a 53 minutes thriller on Friday.
Koo/Tan will take on another Malaysian pair Lim Khim Wah/Ong Jian Guo in the semi-finals after Lim/Ong saw off Hong Kong’s Or Chin Chung/Tang Chun Man 21-17, 21-19.
Soniia Cheah and Chong Wei Feng of Malaysia also secured a semi-final berth in women’s singles and men’s singles respectively.
