# Malaysians upset second seeds to reach mixed doubles final
# Jin Wei fails to reach women’s singles final
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By Rizal Abdullah
Malaysia’s No 2 mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing is one step away from winning their second international title after the No 3 seeds marched into the final in the USD120,000 Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold on Saturday.
In the semi-finals the Malaysians stunned No 2 seeds and Thai hope Puavaranukroh Dechapol-Rawinda Prajongjai – coming back from a set down for an inspiring 22-24, 21-17, 21-14 in 69 minutes.
In the final Kian Meng-Pei Jing will face Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet who knocked out another Thai pair – Supak Jomkoh-Puttita Supajirakul also in a three-set thriller 18-21, 21-13, 21-15.
For the Malaysians this is their sixth final. They won the Vietnam Open and were runners-up in the Malaysian Masters, Polish Open, Taiwan Open and Indonesia Masters.
Malaysia’s challenge in the women’s singles ended in the semi-final when world junior champion Goh Jin Wei’s inexperience playing at higher level international tournaments once again stood out like a sore thumb.
The 16-year-old Jin Wei fell to Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan 20-22, 13-21 in 49 minutes. It was Jin Wei’s second defeat to the Thai in as many matches, having lost to her in last month’s Indonesia Masters final.
However, Jin Wei gave a good account of herself at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok and showed tremendous fighting spirit. It was only her lack of experience that cost her the match.
Busanan will face Japan’s Aya Ohori in the final. The Japanese lass packed off another Thai in the semi-finals – No 4 seed Nitchaon Jindapol 21-12, 12-21, 21-13 in a 65 minute battle and prevent an all-Thai women’s singles final.
In the men’s singles Thai hope Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk kept his title hopes alive after the No 5 seed defeated Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto 21-19, 21-16 to set-up a final against No 2 seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia.Sony prevailed 19-21, 21-16, 21-17 against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu.
Thailand’s will also feature in the women’s doubles final with No 1 seeds Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai coming out tops against Japan’s Miki Kashihara-Miyuki Kato 21-14, 21-13 in 44 minutes.
The Thai pair will face Japan’s No 5 seeds Mayu Matsumoto-Wakane Nagahara who upset No 2 seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai 21-19, 21-17.
In the men’s doubles unseeded Japanese pair Takuto Inoue-Yuki Kaneko continued their fine run in Bangkok with a 21-19, 24-22 win over Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia.
In the final the Japanese pair will be up against favourites Berry Angriawan-Rian Agung Saputro of Indonesia, The No 2 seeds, ended Malaysia’s independent pair Lim Khim Wah-Ong Jian Guo’s run with a 21-17, 21-18 win in 38 minutes.
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RESULTS (All Semi-Finals)
Men’s Singles
Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (Tha) beat Kenta Nishimoto (Jpn) 21-19, 21-16
Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina) beat Lee Cheok Yiu (Hkg) 19-21, 21-16, 21-17
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Men’s Doubles
Takuto Inoue-Yuki Kaneko (Jpn) beat Fajar Alfian- Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Ina) 21-19, 24-22
Berry Angriawan-Rian Agung Saputro (Ina) beat Lim Khim Wah- Ong Jian Guo (Mas) 21-17, 21-18
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Women’s Singles
Aya Ohori (Jpn) beat Nitchaon Jindapol (Tha) 21-12. 12-21, 21-13
Busanan Ongbamrungphan (Tha) beat Goh Jin Wei (Mas)Ā 22-20, 21-13
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Women’s Doubles
Mayu Matsumoto-Wakane Nagahara (Jpn) beat Jongkolphan Kititharakul- Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha) 21-19, 21-17
Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) beat Miki Kashihara-Miyuki Kato (Jpn) 21-14, 21-13
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Mixed Doubles
Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) beat Supak Jomkoh-Puttita Supajirakul (Tha) 18-21, 21-13, 21-15
Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (Mas) beat Puavaranukroh Dechapol-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) 22-24, 21-17, 21-14
