# Malaysians upset Thai top seeds in semis
# Joo Ven’s winning run comes to an end in men’s singles
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Eight months after being paired together Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie are striking the right chords in the mixed doubles as they marched into the final of the USD120,000 Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold.
The fifth seeded Malaysians pulled off a stunning three-set win over top seeds and home favourites Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-19, 19-21, 21-17 in a 66 minute semi-final thriller at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok in the semifinals on Saturday despite a bad call by the umpire.
The Scotland Open champions were finalists in this year’s Malaysian Masters in Sibu Sarawak but an ankle injury to Soon Huat during the Malaysian Open Superseries Premier in Kuching broke their rhythm.
The Malaysians will face China’s He Jiting-Du Yue in the final. The Chinese pair upset second seeds Terry Hee Yong Kai-Tan Wei Han of Singapore 23-21, 21-19 in another semi-final.
The win by Soon Huat-Shevon made up for the disappointment in the men’s singles when unseeded Soon Joo Ven’s brilliant run was brought to an end. The Malaysian youngster went down tamely 21-9, 21-18 to No 4 seed Jonatan Christie in only 34 minutes.
Jonatan will face India’s third seed B. Sai Praneeth in the final. Praneeth, this year’s Singapore Open champion, ended Thailand’s challenge in the men’s singles when he beat Pannawit Thongnuam 21-11, 21-15.
However, Thailand is assured of the women’s singles title with top seed and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon taking on Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the final. Busanan played a cool game against India’s No 2 seed Saina Nehwal for a 21-19, 21-18 win while Ratchanok came off 21-18, 21-15 winner over Zhang Beiwen of United States.
Thailand will also feature in the women’s doubles final with Chayanit Chaladcham-Phataimas Muenwong facing Indonesia’s Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu for the title. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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RESULTS (All Semi-Finals)
Men’s singles
Jonatan Christie (Ina) beat Soong Joo Ven (Mas) 21-9,Ā 21-18
Sai Praneeth (Ind) beats Pannawit Thongnuam (Tha) 21-11, 21-15
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Men’s doubles
Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto (Ina) beat Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge (Eng) 22-20, 18-21, 21-9
Raphael Beck-Peter Kaesbauer (Ger) beat Mark Lamsfuss-Marvin Emil Seidel (Ger) 21-18, 14-21, 21-19
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Women’s singles
Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) beat Zhang Beiwen (US) 21-18, 21-15
Busanan Ongbamrungphan (Tha) beat Saina Nehwal (Ind) 21-19, 21-18
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Women’s doubles
Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu (Ina) beat Savitree Amitrapai-Pacharapun Chochuwong (Tha) 24-26, 21-16, 21-13
Chayanit Chaladchalam-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) beat Du Yue-Xu Ya (Chn) 21-19, 21-19
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Mixed doubles
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (Mas) beat Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) 21-19, 19-21, 21-17
He Jiting-Du Yue (Chn) beat Terry Hee Yong Kai-Tan Wei Han (Sin) 23-21, 21-19
