Way to go: Pearly Tan (right) and M. Thinaah marched into the Hong Kong Open semis. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are recapturing some of their best form again just in time for the Asian Games in Hangzhou from Sept 23-Oct 8.
Pearly-Thinaah showed great determination and fighting spirit to battle their way into the Hong Kong Open women’s doubles semi-finals with a 15-21, 21-14, 21-19 victory over Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Kowloon yesterday.
The world No. 10 had never lost to the Thai world No. 9 pair before but had to work very hard for their fifth straight victory over the latter.
Pearly-Thinaah came back superbly from 15-18 behind in the third game to snatch the thrilling win in 66 minutes.
National women’s doubles coach Hoon Thien How was pleased with the win.
“In the first game, Pearly-Thinaah were following their opponents’ rhythm too much and ended up hitting the shuttle out many times,” said Thien How.
“But they managed to turn it around and control the game more in the second game.
“They were more confident in the third game.”
The win meant that Pearly-Thinaah have now reached the last four for the first time since finishing runners-up at the Malaysian Masters in May.
The duo will take on another Thai pair, sisters Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard next for a place in the final.
World No. 11 Benyapa-Nuntakarn will pose a tough challenge after they stunned Japan’s two-time world champions Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara 17-21, 25-23, 21-14 in another last- eight clash.
Pearly-Thinaah had beaten the Thai pair in their only encounter so far at the 2021 Thailand Open but need to be on their toes as the latter have improved a lot since then and had captured the Thailand Masters in January.
There was further joy for Malaysia when independent women’s singles player Goh Jin Wei stunned China’s world No. 9 Han Yue 12-21, 21-17, 21-18 to reach the semi finals.
World No. 34 Jin Wei played brilliantly to claim her biggest win since toppling India’s 2019 world champion P.V. Sindhu in a group stage match in the Sudirman Cup in May.
The Asiad-bound Jin Wei has now reached her first semi-final of the year in individual tournaments.
The 23-year-old will next face Han Yue’s compatriot and world No. 17 Zhang Yiman.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s doubles ended after Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani went down 19-21, 18-21 to Taiwan’s reigning Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin.
Despite the defeat, world No. 41 Sze Fei-Izzuddin can hold their heads high after going toe-to-toe with the Taiwanese pair.
RESULTS
(Malaysians only)
Second round
Mixed doubles: Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang (Tpe) 21-12, 21-9; Guo Xinwa-Wei Yaxin (Chn) bt Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei 21-18, 12-21, 21-19.
Quarter finals
Men’s doubles: Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin (Tpe) bt Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 21-19, 21-18.
Women’s singles: Goh Jin Wei bt Han Yue (Chn) 12-21, 21-17, 21-18.
Women’s doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha) 15-21, 21-14, 21-19.
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