Pang Ron-Su Yin run out of steam but last-four outing will fuel them for longer runs

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin have the capabilities to go far if their performance in the Syed Modi International is anything to go by.

Pang Ron-Su Yin, who were only paired together last month, went down fighting 21-17, 5-21, 17-21 to Japan’s 2021 All-England runners-up Yuki Kaneko-Misaki Matsutomo in a thrilling semi-final clash in Lucknow yesterday.

The defeat ended the former’s gallant run in only their third tournament together.

Pang Ron, 25, and Su Yin, 20, had captured their maiden title together at the Malaysian International Challenge two weeks ago.

The duo then stunned another Japanese pair, top seeds Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito and Taiwan’s world No. 34 Chang Ko-chi-Lee Chih-chen en route to reaching the last four in Lucknow.

Pang Ron-Su Yin had a good chance of causing another upset against world No. 24 Kaneko-Matsumoto by storming into an 11-5 lead in the first game.

The Japanese duo fought back to level the scores at 12-12 but Pang Ron-Su Yin stayed strong to win the game.

Kaneko-Matsumoto, though, came out firing in the second game and easily claimed victory to force the decider.

It was a neck-and-neck affair in the beginning of the third game before the Japanese pair’s experience made the difference in the end.

“Pang Ron-Su Yin did not play well today (yesterday),” said national mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto.

“They made a lot of simple mistakes and did not anticipate the opponents’ shots well.

“But overall, this result is still good, especially for Su Yin.

“It was her first appearance in a World Tour Super 300 tournament semi-final and she still lacks experience.

“Hopefully, she and Pang Ron can keep progressing well after this,” added Nova.

Pang Ron-Su Yin, who will improve on their current ranking of No. 175, thanks to their strong run in Lucknow, will next turn their attention to next week’s Indian Masters in Assam.

The duo will play home pair Kona Tarun-K. Priya in the opening round.

RESULTS

Semi-finals

Women’s singles: Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) bt Aya Ohori (Jpn) 21-19, 22-20.

Mixed doubles: Yuki Kaneko-Misaki Matsumoto (Jpn) bt Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (Mas) 17-21, 21-5, 21-17; Dejan Ferdinansyah-Gloria Emanuelle (Ina) bt Mark Lamsfuss-Isabel Lohau (Ger) 21-19, 19-21, 22-20.