Last year former national player Tan Chun Seang fell at the final hurdle but this year he fell at one hurdle earlier when India’s H.S. Prannoy bundled the Malaysian out in the semi-finals with a 21-16, 14-21, 24-22 in the men’s singles in the Yonex Vietnam Open in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.
The match played at Tan Binh Sports Center, lasted 57 minutes.
The Indian, who has gone great guns in the Vietnam Open will face top seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka of Indonesia in the final. Dionysius packed off Vietnam’s veteran and best known shuttler Nguyen Tien Minh after a 70 minute with a come-from-behind 15-21, 21-17, 23-21 win.Ā
The women’s singles final will be an all-Japan affair between two of their rising stars Nozomi Okuhara and Aya Ohori. In the semi-finals Nozomi – the 2012 World Junior champion – defeated Vietnam’s Vu Thi Trang 21-15, 21-12 while Aya got the better of compatriot Kaori Imabeppu 21-18, 21-19.
Indonesia is assured of the women’s doubles title with both their pairs winning their respective semi-final matches. Gebby Ristiyani Imawan-Mahadewi Istirani Ni Ketut beat Taiwan’s Chiang Kai Hsin-Hung Shih Han 21-13, 21-17.
In the other semi-final Geovani Mareta Dea-Rosyita Eka Putri came off 21-19, 21-14 winners against Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Sen-Vu Thi Trang.
RESULTS (Selected Semi-Finals)
Men
Singles
H.S. Prannoy (Ind) beat Tan Chun Seang (Mas) 21-16, 14-21, 24-22
Dionysisu Hayom Rumbaka (Ina) beat Nguyen Tien Minh (Viet) 15-21, 21-17, 23-21
Women
Singles
Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) beat Vu Thi Trang (Vie) 21-15, 21-12
Aya Ohori (Jpn) beat Kaori Imabeppu (Jpn) 21-18, 21-19
Doubles
Gebby Ristiyani Imawan-Mahadewi Istirani Ni Ketut (Ina) beat Chiang Kai Hsin-Hung Shih Han (Tpe) 21-13, 21-17
Geovani Mareta Dea-Rosyita Eka Putri Sari (Ina) beat Nguyen Thi Sen-Vu Thi Trang (Vie) 21-19, 21-14
