Impressive: tee Kai Wun (left) and Man Wei Chong overpowered India’s Satwik rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in a 43-minute battle.
PETALING JAYA: Can men doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun reach the final of the Indonesian Open once more?
The world No. 10 Wei Chong-Kai Wun have set up a repeat semi-final match against the homesters Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza but they know it will not be easy as they will have to face the fanatical home fans at the Istora Senayan too.
Last year, they pulled off the impossible in the Super 1000 tournament by beating Sabar-Moh in the semi-finals before losing to China’s Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang in the final.
The Malaysians, however, went on to lose to the same pair at the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun, with the backing of their coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, are aiming to overcome the jeers by keeping their composure and momentum going after enjoying a fantastic run so far.
On Friday, Wei Chong-Kai Wun scored a breakthrough when they overpowered Satwik Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty 21-19, 21-16 in a 43-minute quarter-final match to pull off their first-ever win against the Indians in their fifth meeting.
“This has been one of our best seasons. We are happy with our breakthrough here ... we are getting better and better,” said Kai Wun.
Agonisingly close: Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (left) and Goh Sze Fei went down fighting to Indonesia’s Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza.
“Our tactical game worked against the Indian pair. We used to follow their pace in the past, but this time, we were ready.’’
Even the Indian pair praised the Malaysians.
“We last played against them at the Indian Open, and they have showed a lot of improvement in their game,” said Satwik.
“They are playing more confidently now. We were tied 17-17 and 19-19 in the opening game but they hung on there to win, that gave them lots of confidence.”
Wei Chong-Kai Wun are eyeing their first Super 1000 title while as for Herry, it is his first stint as Malaysia’s coach at his own backyard.
There should have been an all-Malaysian semi-final but Sabar-Moh stood solid to prevent it when they beat world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 21-19, 9-21, 21-19 in an exciting quarter-final match.
Professionals Sze Fei-Izzuddin fought tooth and nail but the Indonesians, who had the full support from their boisterous home fans, refused to give up until the end.
It was certainly a good day for Indonesia as their top pair Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto also made it to the semis after beating Huang Di-Liu Yang of China 21-19, 23-21.
They will next play South Koreans Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae.
