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Saturday November 21, 2009

Doubles ace leads fight to overcome the Koreans

By RAJES PAUL

PETALING JAYA: National men’s doubles ace Koo Kien Keat is not all flash. He’s one helluva fighter as well.

Kien Keat, suffering from cramps in the rubber game, showed tremendous grit to help partner Tan Boon Heong overcome South Koreans Cho Gun-woo-Shin Baek-cheol 15-21, 21-18, 21-18 in a bruising 68-minute China Open quarter-final battle in Shanghai yesterday.

And their reward is a meeting with Taiwan’s Chen Hong-ling-Lin Yu-lang for a place in the final.

There was more joy for Malaysia when third seeds Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty marched into the women’s doubles semi-finals with a sensational 21-16, 21-17 win over Chien Yu-chin-Wang Pei-rong of Taiwan.

Close call: Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong (front) sneaked into the China Open semi-finals by edging South Koreans Cho Gun-woo-Shin Baek-cheol 15-21, 21-18, 21-18.

But it was the Kien Keat-Boon Heong versus Gun-woo-Baek-cheol match that drew the loudest applause yesterday.

The Malaysian duo were on the brink of defeat in both the second and rubber games before staging great comebacks.

In fact, the rubber game saw Kien Keat-Boon Heong trailing 12-16 before they managed to level it at 17-17.

Then, it happened – a tired Kien Keat was hit by cramps.

Boon Heong raised his game to cover for Kien Keat and, together, they prevailed.

National coach Rosman Razak was happy that Kien Keat-Boon Heong worked together to overcome the odds.

“They were a spent force while the Koreans were so energetic. But Koo and Tan won because they kept on fighting. They were mentally strong to come out of the tough situation this time,” said Rosman in a telephone interview.

“Koo had cramps but did not give up and Boon Heong did exceptionally well to support him. I am so happy with their never-say-die attitude.

“Their next opponents are Taiwanese. This pair seem to be enjoying the slow shuttle condition here. It suits their game. Hopefully, our players will be able to overcome them.”

On Eei Hui-Pei Tty’s chances against sixth seeds Tian Qing-Zhang Yawen of China today, Rosman said: “They have to stay patient. There is a chance and I hope our Malaysians will take it.”

Tian Qing-Zhang Yawen pulled off an upset when they disposed of top seeds Cheng Shu-Zhao Yunlei 21-17, 21-9.

Quarter-final results

Men’s singles: Chen Jin (Chn) bt Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina) 21-16, 15-21, 21-12; Jan O Jorgsensen (Den) bt Boonsak Ponsana (Tha) 21-11, 21-19; Park Sung-hwan (Kor) bt Du Pengyu (Chn) 23-21, 18-21, 21-14; Lin Dan (Chn) bt Simon Santoso (Ina) 21-12, 21-12.

Men’s doubles: Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) bt Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen (Den) 21-19, 21-15; Chen Hong-ling-Lin Yu-lang (Tpe) bt Fang Chieh-min-Lee Sheng-mu (Tpe) 15-21, 24-22, 21-17; Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) bt Cho Gun-woo-Shin Baek-cheol (Kor) 15-21, 21-18, 21-18; Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae (Kor) bt Guo Zhendong-Xu Chen (Chn) 21-14, 21-17.

Women’s singles: Jiang Yanjiao (Chn) bt Shi Xiaoqian (Chn) 21-11, 21-13; Li Xuerui (Chn) bt Lu Lan (Chn) 21-17, 21-19; Wang Xin (Chn) bt Xia Jingyun (Chn) 21-12, 21-18; Wang Shixian (Chn) bt Wong Mew Choo (Mas) 21-10, 24-22.

Women’s doubles: Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli (Chn) bt Ha Jung-eun-Lee Kyung-won (Kor) 21-17, 21-14; Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty (Mas) bt Chien Yu-chin-Wang Pei-rong (Tpe) 21-16, 21-17; Du Jing-Yu Yang (Chn) bt A. Duanganong-V. Kunchala (Tha) 21-5, 21-9; Tian Qing-Zhang Yawen (Chn) bt Cheng Shu-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) 21-17, 21-9.

Mixed doubles: Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Devin Lahardi Fitriawan-Lilyana Natsir (Ina) 21-14, 14-21, 21-14; Lee Yong-dae-Lee Hyo-jung (Kor) bt Tao Jiaming-Tian Qing (Chn) 21-18, 21-15; A. Songphon-V. Kunchala (Tha) bt Chen Hong-ling-Chou Chia-chi (Tpe) 11-21, 21-17, 21-16; Zhengbo-Ma Jin (Chn) bt Lee Sheng-mu-Chien Yu-chin (Tpe) 21-12, 21-16.

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