# Peng Soon-Liu dump Polish pair in the quarter-finals
# Malaysians to play China’s Xu Chen-Ma Jin for a place in the final
# Top seeds Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei also in semis
By Rizal Abdullah
Malaysia’s top mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying kept their fire in their quest for a medal in the Rio OIympics after ousting Poland’s Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Zieba in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
The Malaysians came through with a 21-17, 21-10 win in 47 minutes and reaching the semi-finals is certainly a big boost to their badminton career after the disappointment in the London Olympics in 2012.
In London the Malaysian pair lost all their matches in the group stage. But in Rio it has been the opposite for the New Zealand Open champions.
With the win over the Polish pair the Malaysians now lead 4-2 in head to head count. More importantly it has given Peng Soon-Liu a quantum leap in terms of confidence to face China’s Xu Chen-Ma Jin in the semifinals.
Xu Chen-Ma Jin made the semis after pulling off an upset over Korean second seeds Ko Sung-hyun-Kim Ha-na with a 21-17, 21-18 win in 40 minutes.
Top seeds and hot favourites Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China continued their relentless march to reach the last four when they defeated Japan hopefuls Kenta Kazuno-Ayane Kurihara 21-14, 21-12 in a 45 minute match.
Their opponents in the semi-finals are Indonesia’s third seeds Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir who outplayed compatriots and reigning All-England champions Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto 21-16, 21-11 in their 36 minute quarter-final match.
MIXED DOUBLES RESULTS (QUARTER-FINALS)
Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) beat Kenta Kazuno-Ayane Kurihara (Jpn) 21-14, 21-12
Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (Ina) beat Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto (Ina) 21-16, 21-11
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (Mas) beat Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Zieba (Pol) 21-17, 21-10
Fu Chen-Ma Zin (Chn) beat Ko Sung-hyun-Kim Ha-na (Kor) 21-17, 21-18
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