Beyond expectation: Hoo Pang Ron (right) and Cheng Su Yin posing for a photograph after the mixed doubles final match. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin received the thumbs up from national coaching director Rexy Mainaky for their spirited performance in the China Masters.
Pang Ron-Su Yin fought their hearts before going down 23-21, 23-25, 16-21 in 93 minutes in the final to China’s world No. 2 and home favourites Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping at the Shenzhen Gymnasium yesterday.
It was so close, yet so far for the world No. 23 pair as they had an opportunity to win the match when they led 22-21 in the second game after winning the first but could not convert.
Pang Ron-Su Yin though showed great fighting spirit throughout the match, notably when they clawed themselves back from 6-11 down in the second game and made the experienced Chinese pair sweat for the win.
The pair also made heads turn when they pulled off huge upsets over world No. 3 home duo Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin in the second round and Hong Kong’s world No. 7 Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet.
Rexy was pleased with Pang Ron-Su Yin, who have come a long way since they were combined a year ago.
“The Chinese pair were solid during the crucial stage. But overall, I give a thumbs up to Pang Ron-Su Yin for their performance in this tournament,” said Rexy. “They also did well in the Japan Masters (last week). It’s great to see our back-up players raising their game.
“They have showed that if you have the desire and focus to do well, the results will fall into place.”
Pang Ron-Su Yin initially struggled to find their feet but have gone from strength to strength, starting from the Hong Kong Open in September where they reached their maiden World Tour Super 500 quarter-finals.
They lost to Yanzhe-Dongping 13-21, 11-21 but showed how much they have improved since then by performing much better in the China tourney.
Pang Ron-Su Yin have at least made it into the last eight in six of their last seven competitions with their only early exit coming in the China Open where they went down to Zhenbang-Yaxin in the second round.
Finishing second in the Super 750 China Masters was Pang Ron-Su Yin’s biggest achievement so far.
Pang Ron was disappointed after missing out on the title but hopes to build on the outing next year.
“We are really disappointed to lose as we had one match point,” said Pang Ron in a post match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF). “But we have give our best. The Chinese pair were better than us today (yesterday). In the crucial stages, they were more experienced.
“They could change their strategy very fast and we just could not get the one point that we needed.
“Overall, we are still happy with our performance here and hopefully we can grow more confident after this,” added Pang Ron.
Pang Ron-Su Yin will next have a break before turning their attentions to the Malaysian Open from Jan 7-12 at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
RESULTS
FINALS
Men’s singles: Anders Antonsen (Den) bt Jonatan Christie (Ina) 21-15, 21-13.
Men’s doubles: Jin Yong-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) bt Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza (Ina) 21-16, 21-16.
Women’s singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Gao Fangjie (Chn) 21-12, 21-8.
Women’s doubles: Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) bt Li Yijing-Luo Xumin (Chn) 21-10, 21-10.
Mixed doubles: Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (Mas) 21-23, 25-23, 21-16.
SEMI-FINALS
Men’s doubles: Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza (Ina) bt He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu (Chn) 21-16, 21-18; Jin Yong-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) bt Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty (Ind) 21-18, 14-21, 21-16.
Women’s doubles: Li Yijing-Luo Xumin (Chn) bt Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto (Jpn) 21-16, 21-13.
