KUALA LUMPUR - Four Malaysian representatives including men’s singles shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong have marched into the semi-finals of the Arctic Open 2023 in Vantaa, Finland.
In the quarter-final action in Vantaa Energia Areena on Friday, professional player Zii Jia beat compatriot Leong Jun Hao, who had to retire when trailing 7-11 in the rubber game due to injury.
The eighth-seeded Zii Jia won the opening game 21-16 before Jun Hao forced the decider with a 21-19 win in the second game.
The world number 14 Zii Jia will next take on third seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark, who saw off Koki Watanabe from Japan 21-9, 22-24, 21-14 in another last-eight tie.
The unseeded Tze Yong upset the fourth seed from China, Lu Guang Zu, 21-11, 21-18, and will meet seventh seed Kanta Tsuneyama, who disposed of China’s Lei Lan Xi 21-19, 21-12.
National men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun made it to the semi-finals following a 22-20, 21-18 victory over Indonesia’s Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Ercih Yoche Yacob Rambitan.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun will next play Danish pair Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard, who came from behind to prevent an all-Malaysian affair in today’s semi-finals by eliminating professional duo and third seeds Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 16-21, 21-19, 21-14.
National mixed doubles pair and fifth seeds Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei took 42 minutes to stun the second seeds from Thailand, Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai, 21-14, 21-17.
China's fourth seed Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin awaits the Malaysians in the semi-finals after receiving a walkover from Mathias Christiansen-Alexandrta Boje of Denmark, who retired in the rubber game.
Zhen Bang-Ya Xin lost the first game 19-21 but won the second 21-14 before an injury to Christiansen forced the Danish pair to retire. - Bernama, October 14, 2023
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