Sibu: Malaysian mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai will meet compatriots Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing in Sunday’s Malaysia Masters finals after both pairs won through semi-finals against their opponents on Saturday.
The unseeded Goh/Lai showed no mercy against Olympic champion Tontowi Ahmad and his new partner Gloria Widjaja of Indonesia with a dominant display of ruthless badminton by beating the No.6 seeds Indonesians 21-17, 21-18 in 41 minutes. It’s worth mentioning since they started their partnership at the end of last year, Goh/Lai managed to advance to the finals of all tournaments they’ve participated, including winning the Scottish Open, Malaysia International Challenge and became the runners-up for the Welsh International. Goh/Lai are set to square off against compatriots Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing in the final.
“We are very familiar with Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing’s playing style, therefore, we will be more prepared. Tomorrow’s final will largely depend on our mental and physical resilience on the court,” said Lai.
Meanwhile, Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing kept alive their bid for the Malaysia Masters title after falling short at last year’s final. Tan/Lai squandered their 19-17 lead in the first set to go down 19-21 against Tam Chun Hei/Ng Tsz Yau of Hong Kong on Saturday.
Backed by a roaring home crowd, the Malaysian pair bounced back to win the second set 21-13 and completed a one-sided rubber set with 21-12 to set up an all-Malaysian mixed doubles final.
There was more good news for the Malaysian camp on Saturday, where the Malaysian young men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani upped their games to beat Indonesian veteran pair of Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Markis Kido, 21-15, 21-13. Goh/Rumsani will battle another Indonesian pair Berry Angriawan/Hardianto Hardianto for the men’s doubles title.
In men’s singles, Korea’s 37 year-old and No. 5 seed Lee Hyun-Il will collide with top seeded Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong on Sunday.
India’s women’s singles ace and No. 1 seed Saina Nehwal is set to battle Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong for the women’s singles title while No. 1 women’s doubles seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand will face off against Poon Lok Yan/Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong in the women’s doubles final.
