Jin Wei, Peng Soon-Liu Ying falter at semifinals
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s quest for glory in the women’s singles and mixed doubles came to an abrupt halt at the semi-final stage of the Malaysian Masters 2019 badminton championships yesterday.
The gallant run of unseeded Goh Jin Wei ended when she fell 16-21, 16-21 to former world No.1 Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in women’s singles at the Axiata Arena, KL Sports City here.
In mixed doubles, professional pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying went down fighting 21-15, 7-21, 21-14 to world No. 3 Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino of Japan.
Jin Wei was clearly disappointed with herself for not being able to repeat her giant-killing feat from the previous rounds, where she knocked out seeded players Akane Yamaguchi of Japan and He Bingjiao of China.
“I did not play as well as I did yesterday. Maybe I was in too much of a hurry and lost focus.
“My focus now is on next week’s Indonesia Masters. I will work on my weaknesses,” said Jin Wei.
Ratchanok, meanwhile, will take on Spain’s Carolina Marin in the final. The Spaniard beat India’s Sania Nehwal 21-16, 21-13 in the other semi-final.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying attributed their loss to the Japanese pair to “a loss of focus, failed strategy and dropped points due to errors”.
“Their coach (Jeremy Gan) used to train us, so they knew our playing style,” said Liu Ying.
Top seeds Watanabe-Higashino will take on Thailand’s Dechapol-Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the mixed doubles final.
The Thais beat Dutch pair Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek 21-19, 21-14 in the other semi-final. – Bernama
