PETALING JAYA: It was not the start that seasoned mixed doubles shuttler Chan Peng Soon had hoped for with his younger partner at the Indian Open but he is cool about their quarter-final exit.
Peng Soon and Valeree Siow were made to eat humble pie when they were sent packing 14-21, 13-21 by second seeds Rodion Alimov-Alina Davletova of Russia at the K. D. Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi yesterday.
It was the 33-year-old Peng Soon’s first tournament since he made a return to the national team and his first international outing with the 19-year-old Valeree.
“To play against an experienced and seeded pair was not easy in our first meet but at least, we know where we stand,” said Peng Soon.
“The experience from this defeat will do a world of good for Valeree. She is a good player and has lots of potential but there are many things that need to be improved.
“The priority is to strengthen our combination and improve in every match and tournament,” he said.
Valeree said: “The defeat showed that I still have lots of weaknesses and I have to work harder. I hope to put more effort to catch up with the high-level players.”
Their next tournament is at next week’s Syed Modi International in Hyderabad.
While Peng Soon-Valeree’s challenge is over, Malaysia however stayed solid in their chase for a first title this season when top seeds Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei set up an all-Malaysian affair in the semi-finals.
Kian Meng-Pei Jing beat Russia’s Konstantin Abramov-Anastasiia Akchurina 21-10, 21-14 in 31 minutes while Tang Jie-Yei Wei were also in their element when they knocked out Venkat Gaurav-Juhi Dewangan of India 21-10, 21-13.
In the men’s singles, Ng Tze Yong made it to the semi-finals but not after surviving a hard-fought battle against Nhat Nguyen of Ireland.
The Malaysian battled for 69 minutes before prevailing with a 9-21, 21-8, 21-16 win to set up a meeting against India’s Lakshya Sen.
Talented Lakshya put up a valiant fight to beat teammate H.S. Prannoy 14-21, 21-9, 21-14 in the last eight. The other semi-final will be between reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore and Brian Yang of Canada.
Independent shuttlers Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi made it to the semi-finals with an easy 21-7, 21-7 win over India’s Ishaan Bhatnagar-K. Sai Pratheek but they can expect a tough match against top seeds Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia.
It was all over for Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien when they lost 19-21, 21-11, 16-21 to third seeds Anastasiia Akchurina-Olga Morozova of Russia.
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