A real struggle: Justin Hoh went down 12-21, 14-21 to world No. 9 Chou Tien-chen in the Taiwan Open quarter-finals. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles shuttler Justin Hoh’s run in the Taiwan Open came to an end in the quarter-finals but he gained valuable experience after losing to home favourite Chou Tien-chen.
Justin went down 12-21, 14-21 in what was his first meeting against world No. 9 Tien-chen in 43 minutes in Taipei yesterday.
Despite the defeat, the former can hold his head high after making it to the last eight in a World Tour Super 300 event for the first time.
World No. 68 Justin had beaten world No. 49 Frenchman Arnaud Merkle and Indonesia’s Yohanes Saut Marcellyno (No. 70) in the first and second rounds respectively.
The 20-year-old has been steadily working his way up the rankings since returning from foot and knee injuries in March and is expected to move up again after his positive showing.
Justin, who won gold in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Sarawak, will next compete in the Hong Kong Open from Sept 10-15 which will be his first Super 500 tournament.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s challenge in the Taiwan tourney is over after Justin’s defeat.
The 34-year-old Tien-chen will take on teammate Chi Yu-jen for a place in the final today.
In the women’s singles, Indonesia’s world No. 34 Putri Kusuma caused the biggest upset of the tournament when she stunned home favourite and world No. 3 Tai Tzu-ying 18-21, 21-16, 24-22.
Tzu-ying had captured the title in 2018, 2022 and 2023 and was out to win her fourth crown before her retirement from the sport at the end of the year but her hopes were ended by a spirited Putri.
The Indonesian will next play another homester Chiu Pin-chian today.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Chou Tien-chen (Tpe) bt Justin Hoh (Mas) 21-12, 21-14; Lee Chia-hao (Tpe) bt Panitchapon Teeraratsakul (Tha) 14-21, 21-13, 21-15; Lin Chun-yi (Tpe) bt Kuo Kuan-lin (Tpe) 21-19, 21-12; Chi Yu-jen (Tpe) bt Wang Tzu-wei (Tpe) 21-14, 21-10.
Women’s singles: Putri Kusuma (Ina) bt Tai Tzu-ying (Tpe) 18-21, 21-16, 24-22; Kaoru Sugiyama (Jpn) bt Pai Yu-po (Tpe) 21-19, 21-13; Sim Yu-jin (Kor) bt Asuka Takahashi (Jpn) 21-15, 21-13; Chiu Pin-chian (Tpe) bt Natsuki Nidaira (Jpn) 15-21, 21-19, 21-16.
Women’s doubles: Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard (Tha) bt Nozomi Shimizu-Gronya Somerville (Aus) 21-14, 21-12; Jesita Putri-Febi Setianingrum (Ina) bt Chang Ching-hui-Yang Ching-tun (Tpe) 21-19, 21-18; Febriana Dwipuji-Amalia Cahaya (Ina) bt Mizuki Otake-Miyu Takahashi (Jpn) 21-14, 19-21, 21-9.
Mixed doubles: Ye Hong-wei-Lee Chia-hsin (Tpe) bt Lin Bing-wei-Lin Chih-chun (Tpe) 21-19, 21-14; Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) bt Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto (Ind) 22-20, 21-12; Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang (Tpe) bt Wu Hsuan-yi-Yang Chu-yun (Tpe) 21-17, 19-21, 21-16; Lai Po-yu-Lin Xiao-min (Tpe) bt Ming Che-lu-Hung En-tzu (Tpe) 24-22, 18-21, 21-17.
