Much criticised Liew Daren marched into the men’s singles semi-finals in the USD125,000 Yonex Sunrise Indonesian Masters Grand Prix Gold in Palembang with a straight sets 21-15, 21-16 over India’s B. Sai Praneeth in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Another Indian hurdle awaits the ninth seeded Malaysian for a place in the final when he plays H.S. Prannoy, the fifth seed, in the semi-finals on Saturday. Prannoy beat Riyan Subagja 21-13, 21-19 in the last eight.
Privateer Zulfadli Zulkifli, a former world junior champion, is also enjoying a good run in Palembang to reach the semi-finals where he will play Indonesia’s Firman Abdul Kholik. Zulfadli beat another Indonesian Ivanudin Rifan Fauzin 21-19, 21-12 while Firman won 21-14, 14-21, 21-14 against compatriot Mahbub Thoni Azizan in the quarter-finals.
Malaysia will also have a pair in the women’s doubles semi-final when Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean pulled off a surprise with a 21-13, 21-14 win over Russia’s second seeds Olga Golovanova-Viktoriia Vorobeva 21-13, 21-14 in 25 minutes.
The Malaysians will take on Keshya Hanadia-Devi Tika Permansari of Indonesia in the semi-finals.
However, it was the end of the road for Malaysia in the mixed doubles when Ong Jian Guo-Lee Meng Yean fell to Alfiat Yuris Wirawan-Komala Dewi of Indonesia 21-18, 21-17 in 37 minutes in the quarter-finals.
SELECTED QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
MEN
Singles
Liew Daren (Mas) beat B. Sai Praneeth (Ind) 21-15, 21-16
Zulfadli Zulkifli (Mas) beat Ivanudin Rifan Fauzin (Ina) 21-19, 21-12
H.S. Prannoy (Ind) beat Riyan Subagja (Ina) 21-13, 21-19
Firman Abdul Kholik (Ina) beat Mahbub Thoni Azizan (Ina) 21-14, 14-21, 21-14
Doubles
Selvanus Geh-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamulo (Ina) beat Chooi Kah Meng-Teo Kok Siang (Mas) 21-16, 21-11
WOMEN
Doubles
Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean (Mas) beat Olga Golovanova-Viktoriia (Rus) 21-13, 21-4
Mixed Doubles
Alfiat Yuris Wirawan-Komala Dewi (Ina) beat Ong Jian Guo-Lee Meng Yean (Mas) 21-18, 21-17
