Pang Ron-Yee See shown exit by experienced South Korean pair

More to learn: Hoo Pang Ron (right) and Cheah Yee See are only ranked fourth in the national team’s mixed doubles department. — www.badminton­photo.com

PETALING JAYA: Jittery Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See failed to handle the occasion and bowed out of the Toyota Thailand Open semi-finals.

Pang Ron-Yee See were left to shoulder the challenge in the mixed doubles following the exit of Rio Olympics silver medallists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.

And the pair, making their first semi-final appearance in a major BWF World Tour event, were humbled 9-21,16-21 by South Korean fourth seeds Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-ying.

“We didn’t do very well today and that may be down to experience. We just couldn’t use our strong skills against them. Our opponents are both left-handed, so maybe our game play should have been different.

“We lost to a much better pair, so we definitely need more training and experience.

“Although happy to reach the semi-finals, we are not satisfied with today’s performance, ” said Pang Ron.

It will still be a tournament to remember for both of them, who are only ranked fourth in the national team’s mixed doubles department.

In the quarter-final on Friday, the world 35th ranked pair scored a stunning 12-21,21-19,21-19 win over eighth-ranked Hafiz Faizal-Gloria Emanuelle of Indonesia.

It was also the end of the road for women’s doubles pair Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean when they lost 17-21,6-21 to Korean fourth seeds Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong.

“Today was really tough. We were under pressure. In the second game we were unable to control the draught in the arena and that led to a lot of unforced errors from us. That’s the main reason why we lost.

“It’s been a long time since we played competitively and today we were up against a top pair, ” said Mei Kuan.