MALAYSIA are left with the men’s doubles pair of Gan Teik Chai-Lin Woon Fui and women’s singles shuttler Julia Wong to carry the challenges after the quarter-final matches yesterday.
Teik Chai-Woon Fui, ranked 33rd in the world, as expected, defeated Vietnamese Tran Thanh Hai-Nguyen Quang Minh 21-19, 21-13 at the Vongchavalitkul University in Korat to advance to the semi-finals.
They will take on reigning world champions and top seeds Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia today for a place in the final.
In their previous meeting at the Macau Open quarter-finals two months ago, Teik Chai-Woon Fui gave the world number two pair a run for their money.
In the women’s singles, Julia blew away Thailand’s top shuttler Salakjit Ponsana 21-16, 21-12 in just 32 minutes to set up a semi-final match against second seed Maria Kristin Yulianti of Indonesia.
“It will be tougher for the men’s doubles. But Julia has a chance against the Indonesian. She has beaten her at the ABC (Asian Badminton Championships) this year, but then lost to her at the World Championships,” said coach Rashid Sidek.
Those who bowed out in the quarter-finals yesterday were Yeoh Kay Bin and Kuan Beng Hong (men’s singles); Mohd Razif Abdul Latif-Khoo Chung Chiat (men’s doubles); and Lydia Cheah (women’s singles).
