PETALING JAYA: National back-up men’s doubles pair Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe face a daunting task today to prevent a possible China clean sweep in the final of the Malaysian International Series.
Chun Meng-Boon Zhe are set to take on China’s Chen Boyang-Liu Yi for the title after brushing past compatriots Leong Jun Kai-Jimmy Wong 21-12, 21-13 in the last four at Arena Badminton Perak in Ipoh yesterday.
They are the only home pair to make it to the final in what has been a disappointing campaign for the hosts.
And they will not have it easy against Boyang-Liu Yi as the Chinese had stunned the more experienced home pair of Mohd Haikal Nazri-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi in the quarter-finals.
In their semi-final match, the Chinese secured a hard-fought 21-13, 13-21, 21-12 victory over Indonesia’s Juan Elgiffani-Nendi Novatino to ensure that their country will have representatives in all the events.
China are already assured of the women’s and mixed doubles titles after two of their pairs made it into the final in both events.
In the men’s singles, China’s Lei Lanxi is set to take on Indonesia’s Syabda Perkasa while in the women’s singles, Gao Fangjie will meet Taiwan’s Chiu Pin-chian.
Chun Meng-Boon Zhe have their work cut out as they bid to bring some cheers for Malaysia and prevent the Chinese players from running away with every single title.
Men’s singles: Syabda Perkasa (Ina) bt Liu Liang (Chn) 16-21, 21-11, 21-14; Lei Lanxi (Chn) bt Bobby Setiabudi (Ina) 21-18, 21-7. Men’s doubles: Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe (Mas) bt Chen Boyang-Liu Yi (Mas) 21-12, 21-13; Chen Boyang-Liu Yi (Chn) bt Juan Elgiffani-Nendi Novatino (Ina) 21-13, 13-21, 21-12. Women’s singles: Gao Fangjie (Chn) bt Stephanie Widjaja (Ina) 20-22, 21-18, 21-10; Chiu Pin-chian (Tpe) bt Chen Lu (Chn) 15-21, 21-10, 21-10. Women’s doubles: Li Yijing-Luo Xumin (Chn) bt Cheng Yu-pei-Sun Wen-pei (Tpe) 21-15, 21-17; Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) bt Laksika Kanlaha-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) 19-21, 21-14, 21-16. Mixed doubles: Cheng Xing-Chen Fanghui (Chn) bt Ming Che-lu-Chung Kan-yu (Tpe) 21-17, 23-25, 21-13; Jian Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn) bt Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) 21-7, 21-12.
