Ho Chi Minh City: The Vietnam Open mixed doubles No. 3 seeds Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia is now one win away from winning their first ever international title.
Tan/Lai who have played in three finals this year, including Malaysia Masters, Polish Open and Taiwan Open, were made to work on Saturday before the Malaysian pair kept alive the pursuit of their maiden international title by seeing off No. 2 seeds Hafiz Faisal/Shella Devi Aulia of Indonesia 23-21, 21-19 in 45 minutes.
Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing will take on another Indonesian pair Alfian Eko Prasetya-Annisa Saufika in the final on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Prasetya-Saufika also prevailed on a hard fought semi-final match, beating Taiwan’s Tseng Min Hao-Hsieh Pei Shan 18-21, 21-19, 21-16 in 50 minutes.
“I played better in the quarter-finals on Friday, but it was Kian Meng who came to the rescue on Saturday,” said Pei Jing.
“There’s definitely pressure on us, but we try not to think too much and try not to let the pressure get to us,” added Pei Jing.
In men’s competition, former Malaysian national player Chong Wei Feng was overall more dominant than Indonesia’s Firman Abdul Kholik, beating the Indonesian 21-19, 21-15 in the semi-finals. Chong will clash with Hong Kong’s Vincent Wong Wing Ki for the men’s title on Sunday. Wong cruised past Taiwan’s Lin Yu Hsien 21-11, 21-17 in another semi-finals.
Vietnam Open’s men’s doubles No. 1 seeds Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong rolled past Malaysia’s independent pair Lim Khim Wah/Ong Jian Guo 21-14, 21-10 in the semi-finals to take on No. 2 seeds Lee Jhe-Huei/Lee Yang of Taiwan on Sunday.
Despite being unseeded, Ayumi Mine of Japan stunned No. 1 seed Hsu Ya Ching of Taiwan 21-16, 8-21, 21-12 to reach the Vietnam Open final. Mine will face Yeo Jia Min who beat Soniia Cheah Su Ya of Malaysia in another semi-final.
The Vietnam Open offered a total prize money of US$90,000.
