Malaysiaâs young pair Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King continued their fine run in the Perodua Malaysia Masters 2024, producing a shocking upset on Denmarkâs Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard to storm into the menâs doubles semifinals at Axiata Arena tomorrow.
The young pair upstaged the experienced Danish pair 21-18, 14-21, 21-18 in 69 minutes to check into the semifinals against another Danish pair, Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen tomorrow.
However, hopes to see Malaysiaâs three other top pairs in action in tomorrow’s semifinals were dashed with top seed Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik suffering a shocking 21-11, 19-21, 19-21 defeat at the hands of unheralded Korean pair Jin Yong/Na Sung Seung in todayâs quarterfinals.Â
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzudin also stumbled in their bid for a slot in the semifinals after losing out to Denmarkâs second seed Kim Astrup/Anders Skaqrup Rasmussen in straight game of 21-19, 21-17 wrapped up in 46 minutes.Â
Seventh seed Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun wasted a great opportunity to repeat their final appearance in the tournament after suffering a 21-18, 21-16 defeat to Chinaâs third seed He Jing Ting/Ren Xiang Yu.
Fifth seed Lee Zii Jia lived up to expectations with a three-game 21-15, 19-21, 21-11 win over arch-rival and second seed Anders Antonsen. It was an absorbing and energy-sapping 83-minute battle which later took a toll on Malaysian No.1 who suffered severe cramps and fatigue after the match.Â
Zii Jiaâs participation in tomorrowâs semifinals remains in doubt after it was confirmed that he needs to undergo immediate cold bath recovery treatment at the National Sports Institute (NSI) facilities.
âZii Jia had cramps and is suffering from fatigue and we need to focus on his immediate recovery at the NSI..we will only know later tonight if heâs able to play tomorrow,â said Zii Jiaâs manager Lee Zii Yii.
Zii Jia is up against Hong Kong Chinaâs Angus Ng Kar Long, whom he beat in last weekâs Thailand Open final, in tomorrowâs semifinal. Kar Long had earlier booked his semifinal slot after beating Chinaâs Li Shi Feng.
Arif/Yap, who were paired in March last year, continue to prove their worth with strong performances this year. âIt was a tough match against the strong Danish pair today. Weâre all fired up, especially with the home fans rallying behind us, and will continue to improve and remain focussed for tomorrow,â said Arif.
In the womenâs doubles, Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan remained on course in their title bid as they safely cruised into the semifinals against Koreaâs Lee Yu Lim/Shin Seung Sun after defeating Australian pair Setyana Mapasa/Angela Lu 21-16, 21-8.
âWe hope to remain consistent and will not think too much on the finals of winning the title. As for now, weâll set our focus on tomorrow against the Koreans,â said Thinaah.
Early in the day, Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei and independent pair Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai ensured gave the home fans reasons to cheer with an all-Malaysian mixed doubles semifinals tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, top seed Cheng Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei and husband-wife pair Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai will clash in tomorrowâs all-Malaysian mixed doubles semifinals.
Tang Jie/Ee Wei made the cut into the last four after overpowering compatriot Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing 21-19, 21-14 while Goh/Shevon defeated Indonesia pair Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati 12-21, 21-17, 21-17 in 70 minutes.
âSo far, weâre quite satisfied with our performance but need to improve in certain areas, especially our mental strength in facing challenging situations,â said Tang Jie.
Meanwhile, Viktor Axelsen remains on track in his title bid after demolishing Chinese Taipeiâs Chou Tien Chen with a straight 21-15, 21-11 win. The Dane takes on Chinaâs Lu Guang Zu in tomorrowâs semi-finals.
Indiaâs Pusarla V Sindhu meanwhile was at her best after brushing aside top seed Han Yue of China 21-13, 14-21, 21-12 in a pulsating womenâs singles clash to qualify for her first semifinals of the year.
SEMIFINALS (Saturday, May 25)
Menâs Singles:
[1] Viktor Axelsen (DEN) vs Lu Guang Zu (CHN)
Angus Ng Kar Long (TPE) vs [5] Lee Zii Jia (MAS)
Womenâs Singles:
[5] Pusarla V Sindhu (IND) vs Busanan Ongbamrungphan (THA)
[6] Zhang Yi Man (CHN) vs [2] Wang Zhi Yi (CHN)
Menâs Doubles:
[3] He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu (CHN) vs Jin Yong/Na Sung Seung (KOR)
[2] Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (DEN) vs Arif Junaidi/Yap Roy King (MAS)
Womenâs Doubles:
[1] Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi (JPN) vs [4] Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (BUL)
[2] Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (MAS) vs [6] Lee Yu Lim/Shin Seung Chan (KOR) vs
Mixed Doubles:
[1] Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei (MAS) vs [4] Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai (MAS)
[3] Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas Mentari (INA) vs [2] Mathias Christiansen/Alexandrea Boje (DEN)