# Top seeds Peng Soon-Liu Ying fall in the mixed doubles
# Kian Meng-Pei Jing serve a surprise
# V Shem-Wee Kiong exit in the men’s doubles
# Yen Mei humbled in women’s singles
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Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying in the mixed doubles and Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in the men’s doubles know that they will have their hands full to land a medal in next month’s Rio Olympics.
The Malaysian pairs failed to make the semi-finals in the USD200,000 Yonex Tai Open Grand Prix Gold in Taipeh after Friday’s quarter-final matches. However, amid the gloom there was a pleasant surprise from another mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing who pulled off a stunning upset over second seeds Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Chau Hoi Wah.
There was also a bright spark in the men’s singles when 13th seed Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin booked his place in the last four with a 21-17, 210-18 win over Thailand’s Khosit Phetpradap in 33 minutes.
The national champion will play home favourite and fifth seed Chou Tien Chen in Saturday’s semi-finals. The Taiwanese, ranked No 7 in the world, came back from a set down to beat Hong Kong’s Vincent Wong Wing Ki 19-21, 24-22, 21-18 in a marathon 83 minute match.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying, the New Zealand Open champions were the top seeds but their inconsistency once again stood out like a sore thumb. They Malaysians failed to sustain the momentum after winning the first set 21-12 and lost the next two sets 17-21, 12-21 against fifth seeds Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen.
Kian Meng-Pei Jing lost the first set 19-21 but came back strongly to win the next two 21-19, 21-7 for a place in the last four against Indonesia’s Riky Widianto-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja who defeated Taiwan’s Lee Jhe Huei-Hsieh Pei Chen 21-11, 21-18.
Malaysia’s challenge in the women’s singles also came to an abrupt end when Ho Yen Mei found it too hot against home favourite and world No 9 Tai Tzu Ying. The Taiwanese needed only 21 minutes in her 21-9, 21-12 win.
Tzu Ying, the second seed, will be up against Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol in the semi-finals, The eighth seeded Thai pulled off an upset when she blew away China’s third seed Sun Yu 21-19, 21-19 in 46 minutes.
Top seed Wang Shixian of China defeated compatriot Chen Yufei 21-15, 21-9 to earn a semi-final clash against He Bingjiao. Bingjiao was given a tough fight by Thai junior Pornpawee Chochuwong before prevailing with a 8-21, 21-14, 21-8 win.Â
In the men’s doubles top seeds Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen stayed on course but had to fight off a strong challenge from Indonesians Hardianto Hardianto-Kenas Adi Haryanto for 42 minutes in their 19-21, 21-5, 21-13 triumph.
For a place in Sunday’s final the Chinese pair face a daunting task against home favourites and third seeds Lee Cheng Mu-Tsai Chia Hsin – 21-17, 16-21, 21-15 winners over Thailand’s Bodin Issara-Nipitphon Puangphuapet.
Malaysia’s Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, the second seeds and Olympic medal hopes suffered a 14-21, 19-21 defeat to Huang Kaixiang-Zheng Siwei. The fifth seeds from China will now play Taiwan’s Chen Hung Ling-Wang Chi-lin who edged Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Adrianto 25-23, 22-20 in a tight 41 minute match.
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QUARTER-FINAL RESULTSÂ
Men’s singles
Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin (Mas) beat Khosit Phetpradap (Tha) 21-17, 21-18
Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) beat Vincent Wong Wing Ki (Hkg) 19-21, 24-22, 21-18
Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (Tha) Wei Nan (Hkg) 18-21, 21-13, 21-17
Qiao Bin (Chn) beat Lin Yu Hsien (Tpe) 21-11, 21-18
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Men’s DoublesÂ
Lee Sheng Mu-Tsai Chia Hsin (Tpe) beat Bodin Issara-Nipitphon Puangphuapet (Tha) 21-17, 16-21, 21-15Â
Chen Hung Ling-Wang Chi Lin (Tpe) beat Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Ina) 25-23, 22-20
Huang Kaixiang-Zheng Siwei (Chn) beat Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) 21-14, 21-19
Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (Chn) beat Hardianto Hardianto-Kenas Adi Haryanto (Ina) 19-21, 21-5, Â 21-13
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Women’s singles
Wang Shixian (Chn) beat Chen Yufei (Chn) 21-15, 21-9
Nitchaon Jindapol (Tha) beat Sun Yu (Chn) 21-19, 21-19
Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe) beat Ho Yen Mei (Mas) 21-9, 21-12
He Bingjiao (Chn) beat Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) 8-21, 21-14, 21-8
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Women’s doublesÂ
Chaladchalam Chayanit-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) beat Chen Szu Yu-Lin Tsun Yu (Tpe) 21-16, 21-17
Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) beat Go Ah-ra-Kong Hee-yong (Kor) Â 21-16, 21-11Â
Huang Dongping-Zhong Qianxin (Chn) beat Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah-Rizki Amelia Pradipta (Ina) 21-10, 16-21, 21-17
Luo Ying-Luo Yu (Chn) beat Kim Hye-rin-Yoo Hae-won (Kor) 21-17, 21-154
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Mixed Doubles
Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen (Chn) beat Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (Mas) 12-21, 21-17, 21-12
Riky Widianto-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja (Ina) beat Lee Jhe-huei-Hsieh Pei Chen (Tpe) 21-11, 21-18
Hafiz Faisal-Shella Devi Aulia (Ina) beat Kim Dae-eun-Goh Ah-ra (Kor) 21-14, 21-14
Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (Mas) beat Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Chau Hoi Wah (Hkg) 19-21, 21-19, 21-7