Changzhou: The 2023 double world champion, Seo Seung Jae from Korea, prepares to face off against two Malaysian duos in the men’s doubles (Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik) and mixed doubles (Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing) categories of the China Open semi-finals set for Saturday.
On Saturday, three Malaysian pairs have carved their way into the semi-finals. Most notably, the biggest surprise came from Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing, while Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik triumphed over compatriots Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi.
Highlights of Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik vs. Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi in the 2023 China Open quarter-finals:
But as fate would have it, both Chia/Soh and Tan/Lai are set to cross swords with the newly crowned world champion in the semis, with Seo Seung Jae/Chae Yu Jung taking on Tan/Lai in mixed doubles while Seo Seung Jae/Kang Min Hyuk will play Chia/Soh in men’s doubles.
Elsewhere, Malaysia’s duo Chen Tangjie/Toh Ee Wei secured their spot in the mixed doubles semi-finals after a triumphant quarter-final bout against Ye Hong Wei/Lee Chia Hsin from Chinese Taipei with a score of 21-15, 13-21, 21-16. They are set to face the French pairing of Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue in the next round.
The No. 3 seeds men’s pair – Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang will meet Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi of Japan in another men’s doubles semi-final.
In the men’s singles, Denmark’s top-ranked Viktor Axelsen continued his dominant run, overcoming Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew 21-17, 23-21. He’s now set to face Indonesia’s World No. 9 Jonatan Christie, in the semi-finals. Christie, meanwhile, sailed past fellow countryman Shesar Hiren Rhustavito with a 21-12, 21-17 victory.
China has already stamped its presence in the finals, with Shi Yuqi gearing up to challenge compatriot Lu Guangzu in another enticing men’s singles semi-final matchup.
