PETALING JAYA: National mixed doubles shuttlers Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing stormed into the semi-finals of the Indonesian Open at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
The world No. 16 pair showed that they are once again a pair to be reckoned with when they sent English world No. 13 pair Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock packing with a 21-15, 14-21, 21-15 win in the quarter-finals on Friday (July 19).
Kian Meng-Pei Jing will have a handful in the semi-finals on Saturday (July 20) when they go up against world No. 1 and reigning world champions Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong of China for a place in the final.
In the other mixed doubles semi-final, independent pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying will play China’s world No. 2 Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping.
World No. 5 and Olympic silver medallists Peng Soon-Liu Ying defeated Indonesians Tontowi Ahmad-Winny Oktavina Kandow 21-11, 14-21, 21-14 in the quarter-finals earlier.
Another Malaysian pair, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie failed to advance into the semi-finals when they lost 4-21, 15-21 to Yilyu-Dongping in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile in the men's singles event, Lee Zii Jia failed to build on his brilliant run when he fell 16-21, 11-21 to Denmark's world No. 11 Anders Antonsen in the quarter-finals.
It was nevertheless, a positive outing for the 21-year-old youngster who had earlier served up a huge stunner when he beat reigning Olympic champion and two-time world champion Chen Long of China 21-16, 19-21, 22-20 in the second round on Thursday (July 18) night.