
Close call: Hoo Pang Ron, left, and Cheng Su Yin of Malaysia react during the mixed doubles final against Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping of China, in the China Masters. - AP Photo
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin's fairy tale run ended with a hard-fought runners-up finish in the China Masters.
Pang Ron-Su Yin put up a tremendous fight against world No. 2 and home favourites Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping before narrowly losing 23-21, 23-25, 16-21 in an exhausting 96-minute clash at the Shenzhen Gymnasium on Sunday (Nov 24).
The world No. 23 were close to claiming a huge upset when they held match point at 22-21 against the top seeds in the second game after winning the first but could not convert.
Despite the agonising defeat, Pang Ron-Su Yin can hold their heads high after toppling world No. 3 home pair Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin and Hong Kong's world No. 7 Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet en route to the final.
The second placed finish was still the rising pair's best achievement since they combined last year.