KUALA LUMPUR: Nothing can keep shuttlers Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong down for too long.
World No. 49 Hang Yee-Eng Cheong had suffered a dip in form after making a blistering start since partnering together in the beginning of the year.
The independent pair had triumphed at the Slovenian Open, Austrian Open and the Mongolia International Challenge and finished runners-up in International Challenges in China and Maldives.
Hang Yee-Eng Cheong, though, slowed down in the second half of the year and managed to reach the quarter-finals only once – at the Indonesian Masters in September – in their last four tournaments.
But yesterday, the pair proved their mettle by reaching the final once again at the KL Masters after a hard fought 21-16, 19-21, 21-15 victory over South Korea’s Kim Young-hyuk-Wang Chan at the Titiwangsa Stadium yesterday.
The pair are now out to end their good run with their fourth title of the year.
“It feels great as this is our first World Tour final. I think we did a pretty good job,” said Eng Cheong.
“We didn’t think too much about winning or losing in the third game but kept focusing until the end of the match.
“The most important thing is the trust that we have in each other.
“Now that we have reached the final, we want to go all out to win the final,” added Eng Cheong.
Hang Yee-Eng Cheong will face Taiwan’s Chen Cheng-kuan-Chen Sheng-fa in the final today.
The Taiwanese pair ended the hopes of an all-Malaysian final after beating Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 15-21, 21-15, 21-15.
Meanwhile, there was further joy for Malaysia when Leong Jun Hao made it into his first international tournament final this year in the men’s singles after beating South Korean qualifier Choi Ji-hoon 21-17, 21-16 in the last four.
Jun Hao faces a sterner test in the final against Taiwan’s world No. 37 Lee Chia-hao. Chia-hao ended another Malaysian Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin’s run with a 21-15, 24-22 win.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
(Malaysians unless stated)
Men’s singles: Leong Jun Hao bt Choi Ji-hoon (Kor) 21-17, 21-16; Lee Chia-hao (Tpe) bt Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin 21-15, 24-22.
Men’s doubles: Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong bt Kim Young-hyuk-Wang Chan (Kor) 21-16, 19-21, 21-15; Chen Cheng-kuan-Chen Sheng-fa (Tpe) bt Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 15-21, 21-15, 21-15.
Women’s singles: Kim Joo-eun (Kor) bt Lo Sin Yan (Hkg) 21-11, 21-15; Pitchamon Opatniputh (Tha) bt Chen Su-yu (Tpe) 21-19, 21-14.
Women’s doubles: Laksika Kanlaha-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) bt Chang Ching-hui-Yang Ching-tun (Tpe) 21-15, 19-21, 21-18; Lui Lok Lok-Ng Wing Yung (Hkg) bt Lin Chih-chun-Sung Yu-hsuan (Tpe) 23-21, 19-21, 21-14.
Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See bt Chen Zhi-ray-Yang Ching-tun (Tpe) 21-10, 22-20; Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) bt Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee 21-17, 21-17.
