A job well done: Lai Pei Jing (left) and Tan Kian Meng celebrating after beating world No. 8 Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun of South Korea in the Indonesian Open quarter-final match. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Having the right support during difficult times can do wonders. Just ask mixed doubles shuttler Lai Pei Jing.
Yesterday, she hailed her partner Tan Kian Meng as her strong pillar after storming into the semi-finals of the Indonesian Open at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
The world No. 21 professional pair scored one of their biggest win in recent time when they sent world No. 8 and formidable Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun of South Korea packing 21-8, 21-19 in 39 minutes.
It was Kian Meng-Pei Jing’s third win in five meetings with the higher-ranked South Koreans.
They will face China’s Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin next but reaching the semis is already a big achievement after what Pei Jing went through.
Pei Jing recently fell victim to a financial scam that wiped out almost all her life savings but she did not allow the personal issue to break her spirit.
She however, admitted that Kian Meng’s towering presence and strong support had made a lot of difference in the way she played on the court.
“I think we have come this far in Jakarta because of my partner’s understanding and patience,” said Pei Jing.
“I came into this tournament with some personal issues, but it’s already over and I’m trying to accept it.
“But I’m really happy that my partner understands and supports me during this time. We trusted each other with every single point and that was very important for us to have made it this far.
“I told myself that this is my chance to win so I stayed focused and now I’m very happy to have made it, but it’s not over yet because there are two more matches to go,” added Pei Jing.
Having been partners since 2015, Kian Meng added that they are excited with their good run and glad they did not let external distractions get in the way.
“We don’t want to think about those issues, we just want to focus on the positive things,” said Kian Meng.
“We’re happy and excited, but the tournament isn’t over yet,” added Kian Meng, who is learning to be more consistent in his game by making fewer mistakes.
Kian Meng will need that consistency to shine through once again as world No. 5 Zhenbang-Yaxin are tough nut to crack.
Meanwhile, the campaign came to an end for women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah when they lost 20-22, 18-21 to world No. 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan of China yesterday.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Malaysian unless stated
Men’s singles: Li Shifeng (Chn) bt Leong Jun Hao 21-11, 21-12; Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Lee Zii Jia 21-16, 21-17; Shi Yuqi (Chn) bt Toma Popov (Fra) 17-21, 21-10, 21-18; Anders Antonsen
(Den) bt Lakshya Sen (Ind) 24-22, 21-18
Women’s singles: Carolina Marin (Spa) bt Han Yue (Chn) 21-8, 21-6; Wang Zhiyi (Chn) bt Gregoria Mariska (Ina) 21-8, 21-18; Chen Yufei (Chn) bt Sung Shuo-yun (Tpe) 21-15, 21-7; An
Se-young (Kor) bt He Bingjiao (Chn) 21-17, 21-14
Men’s doubles: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun bt Lu Ching-yao-Yang Po-han (Tpe) 21-17, 18-21, 21-10; Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza (Ina) bt Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-Hsuan (Tpe) 21-17,
14-21, 21-16;
Women’s doubles: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) bt Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah 22-20, 21-18; Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara (Jpn) bt Li Yijing-Luo Xumin 21-19, 21-17;
Mixed doubles: Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing bt Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na Eun (Kor) 21-8, 21-19; Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) bt Dejan Ferdinansyah-Gloria
Emanuelle (Ina) 21-16, 21-17; Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) bt Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) 21-17, 21-10; Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn) bt Feng Yanzhe-Huang
Dongping (Chn) 21-17, 11-21, 21-16
