Spicy encounter: Chen Tang Jie (left) and Toh Ee Wei will play Thai pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the final today. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei exacted sweet revenge over Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito to march into the Thailand Masters final.
World No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei had suffered a disappointing defeat to the world No. 11 Japanese pair in the Malaysian Open last month but superbly turned the tables to beat the latter 21-11, 21-17 in just 33 minutes in Bangkok yesterday.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei started the match strongly and were in control of the first game from start to finish.
Midorikawa-Saito though stormed back to lead 11-7 and 13-8 in the second game before the Malaysians staged a great fight-back to come away with the victory.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei are the first Malaysian representatives to reach a final this year.
The pair have also managed to turn around their form after suffering three consecutive second round defeats in the Malaysian Open, Indian Open and Indonesian Masters.
It will be Tang Jie-Ee Wei’s third final overall in World Tour competitions and they won both their previous title matches in the Orleans Masters and Taiwan Open last year.
Standing in the pair’s way to their third World Tour crown are home favourites and 2021 world champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Dechapol-Sapsiree were equally impressive in their 21-17, 21-14 win over Indonesia’s world No. 17 Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu in the other last four match.
It will be the second consecutive final for the world No. 6 Thai pair after they had captured the Indian Open in New Delhi a fortnight ago.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei face a tough task though as they have only beaten the Thai duo once in four meetings.
Their sole win came in the quarter-finals of the Arctic Open last October.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Chou Tien-chen (Tpe) bt Mark Caljouw (Ned) 21-15, 21-12; Loh Kean Yew (Sin) bt Su Li-yang (Tpe) 21-14, 21-14.
Men’s doubles: He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu (Chn) bt Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana (Ina) 21-15, 21-6; Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (Tha) bt Supak Jomkoh-Kittinupong Kedren (Tha) 24-22, 21-13.
Women’s singles: Supanida Katethong (Tha) bt Ashmita Chaliha (Ind) 21-13, 21-12; Aya Ohori (Jpn) bt Busanan Ongbamrungphan (Tha) 21-16, 21-12.
Women’s doubles: Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard (Tha) bt Febriana Dwipuji-Amallia Cahaya (Ina) 21-13, 23-21; Lee Yi-jing-Luo Xumin (Chn) bt Lee Yu-lim-Shin Seung-chan (Kor) 21-15, 21-18.
Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (Mas) bt Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito (Jpn) 21-11, 21-17; Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) bt Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu (Ina) 21-17, 21-14.
