Ewe Hock hopes June Wei makes strong finish in Taiwan

PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles shuttler Cheam June Wei (pic) is starting to reap the rewards of his hard work in training.

June Wei, who trains under former international Ong Ewe Hock, stormed into the final of the Taiwan Masters after dispatching off home qualifier Cheng Kai-wen 21-12, 21-17 yesterday.

It will be the 27-year-old professional player’s first final since he finished runner-up to fellow Malaysian Leong Jun Hao in the 2022 Indonesian Masters.

Ewe Hock was pleased with June Wei’s performance and hopes his charge can go on to win the title.

“It’s a good result for him. He has been training hard and it has paid off,” said Ewe Hock.

“Mainly, he has improved on his fitness and power. I do hope he can become the champion. He needs to go all out tomorrow (today).”

The world No. 61, who has never won a World Tour title before, will face a tough test in the final against another homester, world No. 31 Lee Chia-hao.

Chia-hao pulled off an impressive 21-10, 21-15 win over world No. 21 teammate Wang Tzu-wei to book his spot in the title match.

Based on the head-to-head records, the Taiwanese holds a slight advantage over June Wei as he has beaten the latter three times in their past five meetings.

Their last encounter was in the qualifying round of the 2023 Malaysian Masters where Chia-hao came out on top.

June Wei’s last victory over the 25-year-old came en route to the final of the Indonesian tourney in 2022.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s doubles ended after independent pairs Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong both lost to home pairs.

Wee Kiong-Azriyn fell 16-21, 20-22 to Chen Zhi-ray-Lin Yu-chieh while Hang Yee-Ng Cheong went down fighting to Chang Ko-chi-Chen Xin-yuan 18-21, 21-11, 18-21.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Men’s singles: Cheam June Wei (Mas) bt Cheng Kai (Tpe) 21-12, 21-17; Lee Chia-hao (Tpe) bt Wang Tzu-wei (Tpe) 21-10, 21-15.

Men’s doubles: Chen Zhi-ray-Lin Yu-chieh (Tpe) bt Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub (Mas) 21-16, 22-20; Chang Ko-chi-Chen Xin-yuan (Tpe) bt Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong (Mas) 21-18, 11-21, 21-18.

Women’s singles: Pai Yu-po (Tpe) bt Huang Yu-hsun (Tpe) 11-21, 21-9, 21-15; Wen Chi-hsu (Tpe) bt Komang Ayu (Ina) 22-20, 18-21, 14-9, ret.

Women’s doubles: Jesita Putri-Febi Setianingrum (Ina) bt Chang Ching-yui-Yang Ching-tun (Tpe) 21-19, 16-21, 21-19; Sung Shuo-yun-Yu Chien-hui (Tpe) bt Lin Chih-chun-Teng Chun-hsun (Tpe) 24-22, 24-22.

Mixed doubles: Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat (Tha) bt Po Li-wei-Chang Ching-hui (Tpe) 21-9, 21-9; Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang (Tpe) bt Cheng Kai-wen-Liu Chiao-yun (Tpe) 21-14, 21-10.