# All-Malaysia final possible in men’s singles
# Second seed Zii Jia bites the dust
# Women’s singles challenge comes to an end
While the women’s singles shuttlers failed to go beyond the quarter-finals the men’s singles could be an all-Malaysia final in the Celcom Axiata Malaysia International Challenge at the Stadium Perpaduan in Pasir Gudang.
In the quarter-final matches played on Friday on a day when second seed Lee Zii Jia’ failed to make the last four reigning Asian Under-19 champion Leong Jun Hao and sixth seed Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin snatched hard fought victories to stay alive,
Jun Hao, who is also the world junior silver medallist, defeated Indonesia’s Krishna Adi Nugraha 24-22, 21-19 in a close fought 48 minutes.
In an all-Malaysia quarter-final tie Iskandar, ranked 73 and seeded sixth in Pasir Gudang, was taken the distance by compatriot Chem June Wei before prevailing 13-21, 21-14, 21-10 in 50 minutes.
His opponent in the semi-final is Vietnam’s 34-year-old veteran Nguyen Tien Minh. Tien Minh goes into the match with a 2-0 head-to-head advantage and is best remembered for his win over the Malaysian in the recent SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The match in Pasir Gudang gives Iskandar the chance for revenge but his erratic performance is a cause for concern.
In the other semi-final Jun Hao will face Indonesia’s rising youngster Firman Abdul Kholik who stopped another Malaysia in the quarter-finals. Firman beat Chong Yee Han 21-17, 18-21, 21-17.
Malaysia’s challenge in the women’s singles, however, ended in the quarter-finals with the defeat of fourth seed Ho Yen Mei and fifth seed Lim Yin Fun.
Malaysia remained in the hunt in the men’s doubles with second seeds Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin making the semi-finals together with Shia Chun Kang-Tan Wee Gieen.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin defeated Japan’s Keiichiro Matsui-Yoshinori Takeuchi 21-19, 22-24, 21-15 while Chun Kang-Wee Gieen ousted giant killers Lee Chia-han-Lin Chia-yu of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-17.
Chia-han-Chia-yu had knocked out top seeds Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen of Malaysia from a place in the quarter-finals. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
SELECTED QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles
Leong Jun Hao (Mas) beat Krishna Adi Nugraha (Ina) 24-22, 21-19
Firman Abdul Kholik (Ina) beat Chong Yee Han (Mas) 21-17, 18-21, 21-17
Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin (Mas) beat Cheam June Wei (Mas) 13-21, 21-14, 21-10
Nguyen Tien Mih (Vie) beat Lee Zii Jia (Mas) 21-15, 21-17
Women’s singles
Vu Thi Trang (Vie) beat Mattana Hemrachatanun (Tha) 17-21, 21-14, 21-16
Ruselli Hartawan (Ina) beat Ho Yen Mei (Mas) 21-18, 11-21, 21-17
Lin Ying-chu (Tpe) beat Tang Wan Yi (Tpe) 21-16, 21-18
Gabriela Meilani Moningka (Ina) beat Lim Yin Fun (Mas) 21-16, 21-18
Men’s doubles
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin (Mas) beat Keiichiro Matsui-Yoshinori Takeuchi (Jpn) 21-19, 22-24, 21-15
Shia Chun Kang-Tan Wee Gieen (Mas) beat Lee Chia-han-Lin Chia-yu (Tpe) 21-18, 21-17
Masato Takano-Yoshiki Tsukamoto (Jpn) beat Maneepong Jongjit-Nanthakam Yordphaisong (Tha) 21-17, 21-17
Women’s doubles
Lim Chiew Sien-Yap Zhen (Mas) beat Wen Hao-yun-Ye Jing-ya (Tpe) 21-15, 19-21, 21-15
Misato Aratama-Akane Watanabe (Jpn) beat Lin Tsun-yu-Lin Ying-chun (Tpe) 21-17, 21-17
