KUALA LUMPUR − Mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei stunned their more illustrious seniors Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing 21-19, 21-23, 21-14 in a hard-fought 71-minute semi-final showdown to check into the India Open final.
Playing in their first semi-finals in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 500 event (third-tier), world number 40 Tang Jie-Yen Wei showed nerves of steel en route to beating their world number ten counterparts at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, New Delhi yesterday.
“We are very happy to win this match − this will be our first 500 event final. Although we won today, we still have a lot to learn from them... we have huge respect for them.
“For the final, we will − as usual − discuss our game plan later after dinner with the coaches. We will also discuss with our big brother (2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist) Chan Peng Soon because − with his vast experience − he can help us,” Tang Jie said via a voice message.
On paper, the 2018 Malaysia International champions should have no problem against world number 182 Hee Yong Kai Terry-Tan Wei Han of Singapore as they bid to bag their first major title tomorrow.
The Singaporeans enjoyed a free passage into the final after Rodion Alimov-Alina Davletova of Russia withdrew when Alimov tested positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, rising men’s singles star Ng Tze Yong managed to give the third seed Lakhya Sen of India a run for his money before going down 21-19, 16-21, 12-21.
World No 70 Tze Yong, 21, can hold his head up high after the thrilling 67-minute clash, which saw him losing to world number 17 Lakhya for the second time in as many matchups.
In men’s doubles, world number 11 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi were sent packing by world number two Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan of Indonesia 21-15, 21-18. – Bernama, January 16, 2022
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