Taipei: Independent men’s doubles pair from Malaysia, Hoon Thien How/Lim Khim Wah remained on course in the bid to lift their first international title after they advanced to the Chinese Taipei Grand Prix finals on Saturday. Both Hoon/Tan quit the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in February this year, and are currently playing for a private badminton club called Sports Affairs Academy.
The No. 4 seeds Hoon/Lim needed only 39 minutes to see off Chan Tsz Kit/Law Cheuk Him of Hong Kong 21-18, 21-13 in the semi-finals at the Hsing Chuang Gymnasium in Taiwan.
However, a sterner test awaits Hoon Thien How/Lim Khim Wah in the finals where they will take on No. 1 seeds Gideon Markus Fernaldi/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia. The Indonesian pair edged fifth seeds Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi of Japan 17-21, 21-13, 22-20 in the other semi-final match.
In the mixed doubles, Malaysia’s young pair Tan Kian Meng/Peck Yen Wei were defeated by the top seeds Ronald Alexander/ Melati Daeva Oktaviani of Indonesia, losing 8-21, 13-21.
Meanwhile, No. 16 seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia edged past compatriot Simon Santoso 21-14, 21-16 in 43 minutes to clash with No. 5 seed Taiwanese Wang Tzu Wei in the men’s singles finals.
