# Malaysian pair face another Korean hurdle in semisÂ
A day after knocking off top seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai off Thailand the Malaysian women’s doubles pair of Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean have cleared the first of two Korean hurdles to reach the semi-finals in the USD120,000 Korea Masters in Gwangju City, Gwangju.
The Malaysians, ranked 22 in the world, in search of their elusive Grand Prix Gold title, overcame a tough first game but were in full control in the second in their 21-17, 21-8 win over Chae Yoo-jung-Kim Hye-rin in 29 minutes.
In the semi-finals on Saturday it will be another Korean hurdle when they take on Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong who needed only 30 minutes to shut out China’s Liu Xuanxuan-Xia Yuting.
This is the first time the Malaysians will cross paths with So-yeong-Hee-yong but they are ready to continue their winning ways in Gwanju in search of the elusive Grand Prix Gold.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles home favourite and number one seed Sung Ji-hyun fell by the wayside after a shock defeat to China’s Wang Zhiyi who won 27-25, 7-21, 21-12 after a 67-minute battle at the Yeomju Gymnasium.
Wang Zhiyi set up an all-China semi-final clash with Gao Fangjie who defeated number eight seed Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand 21-17, 13-21, 21-16. Fangjie finished runners-up in the Tahoe China Open Superseries Premier in Fuzhou two weeks ago.
The other semi-final is between second seed Nitchaon Jindapol of Thailand and Korean fifth seed Lee Jang-mi.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles
Kim Min-ki (Kor) beat Lee Chia-hao (Tpe) 21-18, 21-14
Lee Dong-keun (Kor) beat Panji Ahmad Maulana (Ina) 16-21, 21-19, 21-11
Jeon Hyeok-jin (Kor) beat Brice Leverdez (Fra) 21-9, 21-1Â
Khosit Phetpradab (Tha) beat Kantaphon Wangcharoen (Tha) 21-11, 21-7
Women’s singles
Wang Zhiyi (Chn) beat Sung Ji-hyun (Kor) 27-25, 7-21, 21-12
Lee Jang-mi (Kor) beat Gregoria Mariska (INa) 21-15, 18-21, 21-15
Nitchaon Jindapol (Tha) beat Lee Chia-hsin (Tpe) 21-18, 21-18
Gao Fangjie (Chn) beat Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) 21-17, 13-21, 21-16
Â
Women’s doubles
Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean (Mas) beat Chae Yoo-jung-Kim Hye-rin (kor) 21-17, 21-8
Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong (Kor) beat Liu Xuanxuan-Xia Yuting (Chn) 21-10, 21-11
