Auckland: Vivian Hoo Kah Mun/Woon Khe Wei of Malaysia stormed into the semi-finals of the $120,000 New Zealand Open Grand Prix Gold at the North Shore Events Centre after defeated young Chinese women’s doubles pair Qiao Shijun/Zhang Shuxian 21-7, 21-16 on Friday.
The No. 1 women’s doubles pair will meet unseeded Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu of Indonesia in the semi-finals.
Malaysia’s men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi shown remarkable resilience in overcoming seventh seeds Liao Min Chun/Cheng Heng Su of Taiwan 19-21, 21-14, 21-16 in another quarterfinal match. The No. 2 seeds Ong/Teo are set to take on He Jiting/Tan Qiang of China on Saturday.
Although unseeded Joyce Choong Wai Chi/Goh Yea Ching put up a real fight against fourth seeds Ayako Sakuramoto/Yukiko Takahata of Japan, but the Japanese pair was too good for Choong/Goh in the end, winning 28-30, 21-11, 22-20 in a pulsating contest that lasted 89 minutes.
Women’s singles No. 1 seed Ratchanok Intanon was made to work before seeing off No. 6 seed Dinar Dyah Ayustine of Indonesia 19-21, 21-10, 21-11. Intanon will clash with No. 4 seed Hanna Ramadini of Indonesia next.
In men’s singles, Wang Tzu Wei of Taiwan took just 25 minutes to ease past Anthony Joe of Australia 21-7, 21-7 and made progress to the semi-finals. Wang will play compatriot No. 11 seed Lin Yu Hsien for a spot in the final.
