A walkover by Liew Daren in the men’s singles and lack of patience by Goh Jin Wei in the women’s singles summed up a frustrating day for Malaysia in the semi-finals in the USD350,000 Perodua Malaysia Masters at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Saturday. 
Goh Jin Wei’s brilliant run in the women’s singles ended at the hands of defending champion Ratchanok Intanon. The Thai former World No 1 walked away with a 21-16, 21-16 in 40 minutes for a place in the final.
 
Ratchanok will defend her title against Spain’s Carolina Marin. The Spaniard was defeated India’s Saina Nehwal 21-16, 21-14 in 40 minutes.
 
The Thai ace, however, had words of encouragement for the Youth Olympics and World Junior champion.
 
“She (Jin Wei) needs to have patience in her game. At times she is too eager to win and this cost her dearly,” said Rathchanok.
 
This is something Jin Wei readily admits that her eagerness to win back fired and cost her the match against Ratchanok,” said Jin Wei, who scalped Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the first round and China’s He Bingjiao in the quarter-finals.
 
“I am still learning from the top players but my match against Binjiao was my best so far…I was very focused in my game.”
 
Meanwhile, independent player Daren’s hopes went up in smoke even without lifting his racquet when he conceded his match to South Korean Son Wan-ho after coming down with a foot injury.
 
He sustained in his upset win over World Np 2 Shi Yuqi of China in the quarter-finals on Friday. Daren, 31, won the match 21-12, 16-21, 21-11.
 
Daren was declared “medically unfit” when he could not even walk due to the painful foot. His hopes of competing in next week’s Indonesia Masters now hang in balance but Daren said he will take a “wait and see” attitude before deciding on his fate.
 
Wan-ho will face China’s reigning Olympic champion Chen Long in Sunday’s final. The Chinese ace beat Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in straight games 21-13, 21-18 in 49 minutes. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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