# Vivian Hoo-Khe Wei win women’s doubles
# Yew Sin-Ee Yi fall at the final hurdle in men’s doubles
Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei gave themselves a big boost for the 29th Sea Games by winning the women’s doubles title in the USD120,000 Skycity New Zealand Open Grand Prix Gold in Auckland on Sunday.
The top seeded Malaysians, however, were taken the full distance by fourth seeds Ayako Sakuramoto-Yukoko Takahata of Japan before prevailing in a come-from-behind 18-21, 21-16, 21-19 in a marathon 98 minutes final.
It is certainly a shot in the arm for the Malaysian pair who won the gold medal in the 2013 Myanmar Sea Games and the silver two years later in Singapore in 2015 where Malaysia won the gold through Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho.
For the KL Sea Games 2017 Vivian Hoo-Khe Wei are Malaysia’s bet for the women’s doubles gold medal.
In the semi-finals in Auckland the Malaysians defeated Indonesia’s Sea Games bound Greysia Polii-Apriyanti Rahayu 21-18, 13-21, 21-13.
While Vivian Hoo-Khe Wei celebrated the win there was no joy for Malaysia in the men’s doubles final. Second seeds Yew Sin-Ee Yi fell in straight sets to top seeds Chen Hung Ling-Wang Chi-Lin of Chinese Taipei – losing tamely 16-21, 18-21 in 36 minutes.
Meanwhile in the men’s singles final unseeded Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong defeated top seed Wang Tzu-Wei of Chinese Taipei 11-21, 21-15, 22-20 for the title.
Former world champion and top seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, who will skip the Sea Games to play in this year’s World Championships in Glasgow, was involved in a three-game final before winning 21-14, 16-21, 21-15 against fifth seed Saena Kawakami of Japan.
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RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
Men’s singles
Lee Cheuk Yiu (Hkg) beat Wang Tzu-wei (Tpe)Â 11-21, 21-15, 22-20
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Men’s doubles
Chen Hung-ling-Wang Chi-lin (Tpe) Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (Mas) 21-16, 21-18
Women’s singles
Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) beat Saena Kawakami (Jpn) 21-14, 16-21, 21-15
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Women’s doubles
Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei (Mas) beat Ayako Sakuramoto-Yukiko Takahata (Jpn) 18-21, 21-16, 21-19
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Mixed doubles
Ronald Ronald-Annisa Saufika (Ina) beat Sawan Serasinghe-Setyana Mapasa (Aus) 21-19, 21-14