Koo-Tan Bag Doubles Title Easily, Thanks to Alven’s Injury

AN injury to Alven Yulianto made it easier for Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to win the men’s doubles title.

The top seeded Malaysians defeated Alven-Hendra Gunawan of Indonesia 21-16, 21-7 win in less than 30 minutes in the final last night.

Except for a brief fight in the opening game, the Indonesians threw the second game as Alven’s movements were hampered due to a groin injury.

To Kien Keat, it was still a big achievement because a long wait for their first title has finally ended. Kien Keat-Boon Heong had been left disappointed several times over the year since they last won the Malaysia Open Super Series in January last year.

“Although our opponents were not at their best, we are satisfied with our win. I think, Alven was suffering from an injury,” said Kien Keat.

“It feels good to finally win at home again.

“We still need to do a lot of work to improve our combination and we will work on it.”

Koo-Tan Expect Fierce Contest With Alven-Hendra

FOR one pair, it is a matter of pride. For the other, it is about winning their first elusive title together.

So expect a keen contest when Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Indonesians Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan cross swords in the men’s doubles final in the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold.

Yesterday, Kien Keat-Boon Heong were unexpectedly tested to the limit by Holland’s Ruud Bosch-Koen Ridder before they prevailed with a 21-17, 18-21, 21-10 win in 50 minutes. The Dutch pair, ranked 32nd in the world, gave the Malaysians a rude shock as they traded blow for blow to level at 17-17 before Kien Keat-Boon Heong escaped with the opener.

The home crowd grew uneasy when the Malaysians failed to finish off the game after their poor control at the mid court saw the shuttle hitting the net just too many times.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong, however, restored order in the rubber game to reach their first final of the year.

Their win yesterday assured hosts Malaysia of three finalists on the closing day after world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying had earlier won their men’s singles and mixed doubles semi-final matches respectively.

Kien Keat admitted that he played poorly but said that he was affected by a back strain.

“Of course, we are not satisfied with our game today. The Dutch pair are not pushovers and they have had their good days,” lamented Kien Keat.

“My movement was hampered by a back sore, which I picked up early this morning. I should be better after a good massage today.

“Boon Heong and I hope to give a better performance tomorrow. The Indonesians have done well here but we will be better prepared. We too want to win this title.”

Alven-Hendra, who have not won any title together since they broke away from the All-Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) two years ago, are hoping to break the duck.

Yesterday, the duo put up a spirited display to fend off an equally determined Cho Gun-woo-Kwon Yi-goo of South Korea for a 21-16, 19-21, 21-18 win in 62 minutes.

Chan-Goh Finally End Losing Streak Against Indonesians

MALAYSIA’S Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying finally got the monkey off their back when they defeated Indonesians Fran Kurniawan-Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth for the first time in super style to march into the final of the Malaysian Grand Prix Gold.

Showing strong determination to end their miserable losing streak, the duo stepped up a gear and played with confidence to beat the third seeds 21-14, 21-10 in 26 minutes.

We did it: Malaysia’s Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying celebrate after beating Indonesia’s Fran Kurniawan-Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth 21-14, 21-10 in the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold mixed doubles semi-finals yesterday. — CHIN CHENG YEANG / The Star

Even Liu Ying, who usually caves in under heavy pressure, came out of her solid partner Peng Soon’s shadow with a gutsy display yesterday.

The win certainly made up for their four previous losses to the Indonesians. Their recent defeats had been at last week’s India Open and Malaysia Open in January.

Today, they take on reigning India Open champions and Indonesia’s powerful combination of Tantowi Ahmad-Lilyana Natsir and the Malaysians will be out to avenge their first-round defeat at the All-England in March.

Peng Soon-Liu Ying are hoping to win their second international title after emerging as the first Malaysian pair to win a mixed doubles title on the international stage at the Asian Badminton Championships in India last year.

The 23-year-old Peng Soon could not contain his joy and attributed their success to the overwhelming support of the home fans, who had come in hordes to flood the 3,000 capacity stadium.

“I am very, very... very happy,” said a delighted Peng Soon.

“We are thrilled to have finally beaten them after losing in the last four matches.

“The crowd gave us extra motivation to defy the odds.

“We really appreciate their support.”

The 22-year-old Liu Ying said she kept her emotions in check despite taking good leads in both games.

“I used to get so tense but this time, I was calm throughout the match today. Instead of giving in to fear of losing again, I did the best I can. And it worked for us.”

On today’s final, Peng Soon said: “Our last meeting against Tantowi-Lilyana ended with a painful defeat. We were leading 17-13 in the decider before they caught up to beat us in the first round of the All-England in March.

“Lilyana is the more dangerous player as she has excellent coverage at the front of the court. Her partner is lethal in his attacks. We will give our best to take them down.”

Yesterday, Tantowi-Lilyana went through a roller-coaster ride en route to beating second seeds A. Songphon-V. Kunchala of Thailand 21-13, 14-21, 21-12 in 41 minutes.

Lilyana rates her new partner Tantowi highly even though their partnership has not hit the one-year mark.

“He is young and energetic but plays with all his heart. He hits hard and is very focused in his game.

“We did well to win the India Open last week and that has given us a lot of confidence.”

Lilyana, however, said she would not underestimate her Malaysian opponents.

“We played against them once and they dragged us into a rubber game.

“It will not be easy and they have home advantage.”

Nelson-Teo Have What It Takes To Join Senior Squad

ALOR SETAR: Youngsters Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi are like fresh breath of air for Malaysia in the men’s doubles badminton.

They have the talent, style, big ambition and fire in the belly.

These are perfect ingredients for Nelson-Ee Yi to make a grand entrance into the senior league and be counted on by Malaysia.

Making waves: Teo Ee Yi (foreground) and Nelson Heg showed good promise at the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold in Alor Setar.

In the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold here on Wednesday, the duo held the upper hand when they took a 15-11 lead in the rubber game before losing 21-16, 12-21, 19-21 to their senior compatriots Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Ong Soon Hock.

The 18-year-old Ee Yi was ruing over a missed opportunity to create a big win.

”It was a heartbreaking defeat for us. We were so close to winning. Fairuzizuan and Soon Hock were so good at front court and we lacked sharpness at the net,” he said.

“Both Nelson and I have come far since we teamed up two years ago. We are growing more confident.

“I have always admired Tan Boon Heong (who forms the national top partnership with Koo Kien Keat) from the start. I like the way he takes control of the game from the back of the court.

“Hopefully, Nelson and I will be able to make it big in the senior team within the next two years.”

But first, Ee Yi-Nelson have two mission to accomplish this year – to become gold medallists in both the Asian Juniors (July 2-9 in India) and the World Juniors (Oct 28-Nov 6 in Taiwan).

“We reached the final of the World Juniors last year but we crashed out in the semi-finals at the Asian Juniors,” said Ee Yi.

“We want to win both the titles this time. It will be a perfect end to our junior careers.”

The duo come under the charge of Yap Kim Hock under the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) programme.

With a few back-up pairs, among them Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming and Pang Zheng Lin-Yew Hong Kheng, showing good promise, Malaysia’s doubles department may finally be proud of having both quality and quantity.

Unheralded Vountus-Lutfi Steal Show With Major Scalp

ALOR SETAR: Top seeds Lee Chong Wei and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong lived up to their top billings when they checked into the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold with relatively comfortable wins at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium here yesterday.

But it was the surprise victory of Malaysia’s unheralded men’s pair of Vountus Indra Mawan-Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid over Olympic and former world champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan that stole the thunder.

Vountus-Lutfi, both 22-years-old, turned the tables against the second seeded Indonesians, winning 21-13, 18-21, 21-13 in 39 minutes to set up a match against South Koreans Cho Gun-woo-Kwon Yi-goo.

Dynamic duo: Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid (left) and Vountus Indra Mawan defeated Indonesia’s Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan 21-13, 18-21, 21-13 to book their spot in the quarter-finals yesterday. — CHIN CHENG YEANG / The Star

They scored their career best win to earn a first appearance in the quarter-finals of an international tournament.

A dazed Vountus, whose partnership with Lufti is only a year old, said of the unexpected victory: “We trusted each other and both of us rose to the occasion.

“We are still young and there is so much more to learn but this win will put us in the right path for success. We hope to ride on this to scale greater heights.”

National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky was pleased with the exploits of the back-up squad’s doubles shuttlers.

“I have been focusing on Koo and Tan while Rosman (Razak) has been taking care of them. I am pleased to note that these players stayed composed throughout the game to win it,” he said.

“Usually, a young pair will play to the gallery or will make mistakes in their haste to gain victory. But Vountus and Lutfi were in control. They did not let their emotions get the better of them. It is a big achievement for them.”

Kien Keat-Boon Heong stayed on track to win their first title of the year when they defeated younger compatriots Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming 21-9, 21-13 in just 21 minutes.

It was a much better showing from the country’s top pair after losing to the 2009 world junior champions in the opening round of the Kuala Lumpur Open last month.

They will take on Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa today.

Malaysia’s interest in the men’s singles is down to only Chong Wei, who suffered a rough patch en route to a 21-19, 21-19 win over Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia in the third round yesterday.

“I was disorientated today. I made quite a number of unforced errors. I was way behind in the second game but I did not give up,” said the world No. 1.

“Fortunately, I was patient enough to finish him off in straight games. I have to be more focused tomorrow.”

Chong Wei will play against Brice Leverdez for a place in the semi-finals. The Frenchman ended the gallant run of Malaysian Beryno Wong.

It was also the end of the road for Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Liew Daren, who were beaten by Vietnamese Nguyen Tien Minh and South Korean Lee Hyun-il respectively.

The shock of the night in the men’s singles was the exit of world champion Chen Jin of China, who was beaten 17-21, 21-19, 21-13 by Japan’s Sho Sasaki.

Results

MEN’S SINGLES

Third round: Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) 21-19, 21-19; Brice Leverdez (Fra) bt Beryno Jiann Tze Wong (Mas) 14-21, 21-9, 21-15; Park Sung-hwan (Kor) bt Shon Wan-ho (Kor) 21-17, 21-15; Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina) bt Derek Wong Zi Liang (Sin) 21-18, 21-18;

Nguyen Tien Ming (Vie) bt Mohd Hafiz Hashim (Mas) 19-21, 21-18, 21-6; Bao Chunlai (Chn) bt Kazushi Yamada (Jpn) 18-21, 21-15, 21-7; Lee Hyun-il (Kor) bt Liew Daren (Mas) 21-14, 21-12; Sho Sasaki (Jpn) bt Chen Jin (Chn) 17-21, 21-19, 21-13.

MEN’S DOUBLES

Second round: Ruud Bosch-Koen Ridder (Ned) bt Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato (Jpn) 21-12, 13-21, 21-17; Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano (Ina) bt Fernando Kurniawan-Wifqi Windarto (Ina) 21-19, 14-21, 21-16; Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Noriyasu Hirata (Jpn) bt Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Ong Soon Hock (Mas) 21-17, 21-18; Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan (Ina) bt Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen 14-21, 21-16, 21-17;

Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa (Jpn) bt Kim Ki-jung-Kim Sa-rang (Kor) 21-16, rtd; Vountus Indra Mawan-Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid (Mas) bt Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan (Ina) 21-13, 18-21, 21-13;

Cho Gun-woo-Kwon Yi-goo (Kor) bt Patipat Chalardchaleam-Nipitphon Puangpuapech (Tha) 21-17, 21-16; Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) bt Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han (Mas) 21-9, 21-13.

* Matches involving Malaysians in other events

WOMEN’S DOUBLES

Second round: Luo Ying-Luo Yu (Chn) bt Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty 22-20, 20-22, 21-9.

MIXED DOUBLES

Second round: Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Ng Hui Lin bt Tan Wee Kiong-Woon Khe Wei 21-15, 16-21, 21-17; Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Kim Ki-jung-Jung Kyung-eun (Kor) 21-7, 21-18; Songphon Anugritayawon-V. Kunchala (Tha) bt Ong Jien Guo-Sabrina Chong 21-13, 21-15; Tantowi Ahmad-Lilyana Natsir (Ina) bt Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing 21-13, 21-13.

Pair Keep Hopes Alive

Goh Wei Shem (left) and Lim Khim Wah reach the last eight.

MEN'S doubles Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah are the last Malaysians standing in the Badminton Asia Championships when they advanced to the quarter-finals in Chengdu, China yesterday.
Wei Shem-Khim Wah, playing in their third tournament as a pair, defeated Thailand's Songphon Anugritayawon-Sudket Prapakamol 21-16, 21-10 in 25 minutes to give some relief to the Malaysian camp after the rest bit the dust in the preliminary rounds.

However, they face an uphill task against favourites Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China, who beat Kwon Yi Goo-Cho Gun Woo of South Korea 21-13, 21-13, in the last eight today.

Men's singles Liew Daren crashed out in the third round after losing 21-16, 19-21, 21-19 to China's Du Pengyu in 76 minutes.
Lydia Cheah was also no match for China's Li Xuerui in the women's singles as the former suffered a 21-11, 21-17 defeat in just 29 minutes.

In the women's doubles, Marylen Ng Poau Leng-Woon Khe Wei and Vivian Hoo-Lim Yin Loo found the going tough in the second round.

Top seeds Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin showed Marylen-Khe Wei the way out with a 21-19, 21-11 triumph while Vivian-Yin Loo suffered a 21-14, 21-11 defeat to Duang Anong Arunkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul of Thailand in the second round.

The tournament also saw a major upset in the men's singles when Sho Sasaki of Japan toppled world champion Chen Jin of China 21-12, 20-22, 21-15 in the third round.

Top seed Lin Dan of China also struggled before beating compatriot Wen Kai 18-21, 21-19, 21-16 in 66 minutes to reach the last eight. -- K.M. BOOPATHY


Read more: Pair keep hopes alive http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/39chinks/Article#ixzz1KGNQgSzI

Daren And Lydia On Song In Chengdu

NATIONAL elite shuttler Liew Daren and Lydia Cheah produced one of their better performances to keep Malaysia's interest alive in the Badminton Asia Championships men's and women's singles in Chengdu, China yesterday.

Daren defeated Wong Wing Ki of Hong Kong, the 13th seed, 23-21, 22-20 in 42 minutes to advance to the third round.

He will play China's Du Pengyu, who beat Kazumasa Sakai of Japan 21-7, 23-21, today.

Back-up player Arif Latif fell in the second round after losing 21-18, 2-12 to Sho Sasaki of Japan while Goh Soon Huat suffered a 21-10, 21-8 defeat to world champion Chen Jin of China.

Lydia, who came through the qualifying rounds, edged Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Maria Kristin Yulianti 21-19, 18-21, 23-21 in 52 minutes.

Lydia will play sixth seed Li Xuerui of China, who beat Chen Hsiao Huan of Taiwan 21-8, 21-16, in the second round.

Tee Jing Yi's run was halted by Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand 15-21, 21-16, 21-12.

In the men's doubles, Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah were the only survivors when they received a free ride into the second round as their opponents Lee Yong Dae-Shin Baek Cheol of South Korea conceded a walkover.

They will play Thailand's Songphon Anugritayawon-Sudket Prapakamol, who overcame Taiwan's Chen Hung Ling-Lin Yu Lang 21-19, 21-19, in the second round.

Fairuzizuan Tazari-Ong Soon Hock crashed out in the first round after losing 21-17, 21-17 to Indonesians Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan while Zakry Latif-Hoon Thien How took Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia to three games, only to lose 21-17, 17-21, 21-16.

Women's doubles Marylen Ng Poau Leng-Woon Khe Wei defeated Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Sen-Vu Thi Trang 21-16, 21-15 and will take on top seeds Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin of Taiwan in the second round.

RESULTS -- (Malaysia unless stated) Men's Singles 2nd rd: Lin Dan (Chn) bt Amar Awad (Syr) 21-4, 21-7; Liew Daren bt Wong Wing Ki (HK) 22-20, 23-21; Chen Jin (Chn) bt Goh Soon Huat 21-10, 21-8; Sho Sasaki (Jpn) bt Arif Latif 21-18 21-12;

Doubles 1st rd: Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah w.o. Lee Yong Dae-Shin Baek Cheol (Kor); Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan (Ina) bt Fairuzizuan Tazari-Ong Soon Hock 21-17, 21-17; Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan (Ina) bt Zakry Latif-Hoon Thien How 21-17, 17-21, 21-16.

Women's Singles, 1st rd: Lydia Cheah bt Maria Kristin Yulianti (Ina) 21-19, 18-21, 23-21; Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (Tha) bt Tee Jing Yi 15-21, 21-16, 21-12.

Doubles, 1st rd: Marylen Ng Poau Leng-Woon Khe Wei bt Nguyen Thi Sen-Vu Thi Trang (Vie) 21-16, 21-15.

Mixed Doubles, 1st rd: Chen Hung Ling-Cheng Wen Hsing (Tai) bt Hoon Thien How-Woon Khe Wei 21-19, 21-9; Xu Chen-Ma Jin (Chn) bt Lim Khim Wah-Lim Yin Loo 21-10, 21-11; Liu Xiaolong-Bao Yixin (Chn) bt Fairuzizuan Tazari-Vivian Hoo 21-19, 21-19. -- K.M. BOOPATHY

Read more: Daren and Lydia on song in Chengdu http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/lke123/Article/#ixzz1KGLg6UxO