Giant slayers: Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin in action against Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet during the mixed doubles semi-final at the China Masters. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: After changing partners four times and trying for so long, mixed doubles shuttler Hoo Pang Ron finally made the breakthrough he wanted when he smashed into the final of the China Masters with Cheng Su Yin.
And the 26-year-old did it in style with his 21-year-old partner when they brilliantly upstaged Hong Kong's world No. 7 Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet 21-14, 17-21, 21-19 in a thrilling last four match at the Shenzhen Gymnasium yesterday.
It was their second big scalp in the tournament after taking down world No. 3 home pair Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin.
They will next face another tough test in the final against home favourites and world No. 2 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping.
Pang Ron is just happy to get it right with Su Yin in just their first year together as a pair. They only partnered last November.
"It feels unbelievable for me. It's the first final for me after so many years in the World Tour and after changing so many partners," Pang Ron told the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Pang Ron last made it into a World Tour final in 2019 when he captured the Super 100 Hyderabad Open with Cheah Yee See.
The former also partnered Toh Ee Wei and Teoh Mei Xing but never went far with them.
The impressive Su Yin though seems to bring out the best in Pang Ron and he was over the moon after the huge win over Chun Man-Ying Suet.
It was their second consecutive victory over the Hong Kong pair after also coming out on top in the Macau Open in September.
"Of course we went in as the underdogs but we wanted to prove ourselves. We had no pressure," he said.
"There were moments when we struggled like in the second and third games where it was so close but we kept supporting and motivating each other to keep going."
Pang Ron-Su Yin made an explosive start and led 11-6 in the first game and kept their foot on the gas to seal the win.
The experienced Chun Man-Ying Suet though refused to give up and came back firing to win the second game.
Pang Ron-Su Yin stood up to the challenge, showing great resilience and maturity to snatch the win in a tight deciding game.
Pang Ron knows it will be tough against Yanzhe-Dongping, who prevented an all-Malaysian final by beating world No. 10 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei 21-18, 21-13.
Pang Ron-Su Yin lost to the Chinese pair in straight games in their sole previous encounter in the quarter-final of the Hong Kong Open in September.
"It's their home ground and they are a very strong pair. We lost to them in straight games in the Hong Kong Open," said Pang Ron.
"We have to study their game and discuss with our coaches on how best to handle them this time."
Su Yin said: "I'm very happy because this is my first World Tour final and I hope I can play well.
"We will just go in and give them a good fight."
