Kai Wun-Mei Xing lift maiden mixed doubles title

Yap Ling (right) and Teoh Mei Xing's hopes of making an All-England debut have gone up in smoke after Yap Ling aggravated her ankle problem during training

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Tee Kai Wun-Teoh Mei Xing nailed their maiden title at the Spanish International Challenge by winning the mixed doubles title.

In only their second international tournament together after two years, the lowly ranked Kai Wun-Mei Xing put up a gallant fight to beat Callum Hemming-Jessica Pugh of England 21-15, 13-21, 21-19 in a 50-minute final in La Nucia, Spain, yesterday.

The last time Kai Wun-Mei Xing played together, they were beaten in the second round at the Malaysian International Series in 2019.

The 21-year-old Kai Wun has a chance to win his second title in the men’s doubles.

Together with Man Wei Chong, the duo reached the final after beating Matthew Clare-Ethan Van Leeuwen of England 21-11, 21-11 in the semi-finals.

The duo, however, have a tough task against a more experienced Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar of France in the final.

Malaysia are also assured of a title in the women’s singles with SEA Games champions Goh Jin Wei taking on S. Kisona in the final.

The 2017 KL Games winner Jin Wei defeated compatriot Eoon Qi Xuan 21-17, 21-11 in the semi-finals while Kisona, the 2019 edition gold medallist, pulled off a 21-18, 21-10 win over Yaelle Hoyaux of France in the other last four contest.

FINAL

Mixed doubles: Tee Kai Wun-Teoh Mei Xing (Mas) bt Callum Hemming-Jessica Pugh (Eng) 21-15, 13-21, 21-19.

SEMI-FINALS

Men’s singles: Pablo Abian (Spa) bt Ygor Coelho (Bra) 21-13, 21-17; Jan Louda (Fra) bt Luis Enrique Penalver (Spa) 21-18, 21-16.

Men’s doubles: Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar (Fra) bt Rory Easton-Zach Russ (Eng) 21-13, 21-16; Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (Mas) bt Matthew Clare-Ethan Van Leeuwen (Eng) 21-11, 21-11.

Women’s singles: S. Kisona (Mas) bt Yaelle Hoyaux (Fra) 21-18, 21-10; Goh Jin Wei bt Eoon Qi Xuan (Mas) 21-17, 21-11.

Women’s doubles: Paula Lopez-Lorena Usle (Spa) bt Jessica Hopton-Jessica Pugh (Eng) 21-17, 9-21, 21-19; Alyssa Tirtosentono-Imke van Der Aar (Ned) bt Lucia Rodriquez-Ania Setien (Spa) 21-11, 21-16.

Mixed doubles: Callum Hemming-Jessica Pugh (Eng) bt Philip Birker-Katharina Hochmeir (Aus) 21-13, 21-11; Kai Wun-Mei Xing bt Rodion Kargaev-Viktoriia Vorobeva (Rus) 21-17, 21-16.

Quarter-finals (selected)

Women’s singles: Qi Xuan bt Ania Setien (Spa) 21-10, 21-12; Jin Wei bt Jenjira Stadelmann (Sui) 21-15, 21-12.

Men’s doubles: Wei Chong-Kai Wun bt Philip Birker-Dominik Stipsits (Aut) 21-18, 21-12; Corvee-Labar bt Loo Bing Kun-Lwi Sheng Hao (Mas) 21-12, 21-16.

Mixed doubles: Kai Wun-Mei Xing bt Victor Martin-Haidee Ojeda (Spa) 21-17, 21-17.