PETALING JAYA: Newbies Justin Hoh (pic) and Lee Shun Yang stunned higher-ranked opponents as the men’s singles quarter-finals of the Malaysian International Challenge became an all-local affair.
World No. 312 Justin, who only joined the senior badminton squad at the end of last month, beat compatriot and world No. 136 Jacky Kok 21-10, 21-18 in the third round at the Arena Badminton Perak, Ipoh.His teammate and world No. 153 Shun Yang was also on fire when he sent Singapore’s world No. 70 Jason Teh packing with a convincing 21-15, 21-13 win.
Justin now faces an uphill battle against compatriot and world No. 84 Leong Jun Hao while Shun Yang will cross swords with independent player Yeoh Seng Zoe in the last eight.
Seng Zoe beat another Singaporean Marcus Lau 21-16, 22-20.
Justin said that being the underdog worked in his favour.
“There was no pressure on me and I’m very happy to have beaten Jacky. I feel that training with my seniors helped me as I have learnt a lot in the short period,” said a delighted Justin.
His quarter-final opponent Jun Hao kept his own hopes alive with a hard-fought 19-21, 21-18, 21-18 win over South Korea’s Lee Dong-keun.
The other players who made it to the quarter-finals were Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, Cheam June Wei, Lim Chong King and Lim Chi Wing, guaranteeing that a Malaysia will lift the title on Sunday.
Aidil will take on June Wei in the last-eight, while Chong King will meet Chi Wing.
While Malaysians rules in the men’s singles, independent player K. Letshanaa was the only local left standing in the women’s singles.
She kept the country’s hopes alive by booking her spot in the quarter-finals after battling past youngster Carmen Ting 21-15, 18-21, 21-16.
Letshanaa will play Mikaela de Guzman of Philippines today for a place in the last-four.
“I’m glad to make it into the last-eight after losing in the early rounds of my last few tournaments. I will give my all to go further,” said Letshanaa, who last reached a quarter-finals in the Bendigo International in Australia in October.
RESULTS
(Selected)
THIRD ROUND
Men’s singles: Justin Hoh bt Jacky Kok 21-10, 21-13; Lee Shun Yang bt Jason Teh (Sin) 21-15, 21-13; Leong Jun Hao bt Lee Dong-keun (Kor) 19-21, 21-18, 21-18; Yeoh Seng Zoe bt Marcus Lau (Sin) 21-16, 22-20; Cheam June Wei bt Mohd Haris Rushdan 21-13, 21-10; Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin bt V. Eveshgaran 21-12, 21-17; Lim Chi Wing bt Soong Joo Ven 21-14, 21-18.
SECOND ROUND
Men’s doubles: Chang Yee Jun-Low Hang Yee bt Ameer Amri-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 21-15, 21-12; Goh Boon Sze-Goh Sze Fei bt Mohd Faris-Kok Jia Cheng 21-13, 21-18; Beh Chun Meng-Tee Kai Wun bt Gao Shao Tang-Tan Ming Kang 21-12, 21-19; Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Wong Vin Sean bt Tan Kok Xian-Tan Yi Han 21-10, 21-19; Lwi Sheng Hao-Wee Young Pui bt Lim Tze Jian Ng Eng Cheong 21-19, 11-21, 22-20.
Women’s singles: K. Letshanaa bt Carmen Ting 21-15, 18-21, 21-16; Mikaela de Guzman (Phi) bt Khor Jing Wen 21-7, 22-20; Thuzar Thet Htar (Mya) bt Siti Nurshuhaini Azman 21-13, 21-19; Tanishq Mamilla (Ind) bt Chan Wen Tse 21-12, 5-21, 21-18; Shivani Gadde (Ind) bt Myisha Khairul 21-14, 21-8; Yulia Susanto (Sin) bt Wong Ling Ching 21-14, 21-12.
Women’s doubles: Jin Yujia-Crystal Wong (Sin) bt Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing 21-9, 21-13; Cheng Su Hui-Cheng Su Yin bt Lee Zhi Qing-Tio Sue Xin 21-13, 21-14; Gan Jing Err-Noor Hazwani Hazair bt R. Kasthuri-R. Venosha 15-21, 21-11, 21-15; Yap Rui Chen-Yap Yee bt Lee Xin Jie-Valeree Siow 21-14, rtd; Tidapron Kleebyeesun-Patchamon Laisuan (Tha) bt Christine Lam-Ng Wen Xi 21-11, 21-9.
Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Lim Tze Jian-Desiree Siow 21-7, 21-12; Mohd Nuraidil Azman-Noor Hazair Hazwani bt Shaheed Zayan-Fathimath Abdul Razzaq (Mal) 21-9, 21-12; Faris Zaim-Yap Rui Chen bt Loo Bing Kun-Yap Cheng Wen 18-21, 21-19, 21-15; Kittipong Imnark-Ornnicha Jongsathopornparn (Tha) bt Tan Kok Xian-Yap Yee 22-20, 21-13; Hoo Pang Ron-Teoh Mei Xing bt Julius Villabrille-Airah Albo (Phi) 21-18, 21-12; Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien bt Alvin Morada-Alyssa Ysabel (Phi) 27-25, 21-8; Ng Eng Cheong-Teoh Lexuan bt Soloman Padiz-Eleanor Inlayo (Phi) 21-11, 21-16; Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow bt Lok Hong Quan-Vannee Gobi 21-12, 21-7.
