PETALING JAYA: Youngster Justin Hoh has a chance to silence the growing criticism over the lack of results in the men’s singles department when he gets into action in the semi-finals at the Macau Open today.
The 21-year-old Justin will face Tharun Mannepalli of India and barring any upset, should reach his first final of the year.
Justin’s run in the Macau Open has been nothing short of spectacular.
Yesterday, he made a strong statement by sweeping aside 2019 World Championships bronze medallist Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand 21-9, 21-18 in the quarter-finals in 37 minutes.
The Malaysian also had made a strong start by defeating seventh seed Ayush Shetty of India in the opening round.
Several top seeds have already bowed out, including Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu (top seed), Singapore’s Jason Teh (fourth seed), Angus Ng Ka Long (third), and Canada’s Brian Yang (eighth).
There have not been encouraging results since the arrival of Danish coach Kenneth Jonassen and Justin could bring the much needed cheer by taking down Tharun, who had shocked Cheuk Yiu in the second round.
If he wins, he will play the winner of the other semi-final between Alwi Farhan of Indonesia and Lakshya Sen of India.
Aside from Justin, Malaysia will also be counting on their men’s doubles representatives, with an all-Malaysian clash between Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King in the semi-finals.
The match not only guarantees a spot in the final for the national camp, but it is also an intriguing showdown as Haikal and Arif were former partners for five years and once held the world No. 1 junior ranking before going their separate ways in 2023.
Hon Jian-Haikal stunned second seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty with a 21-14, 13-21, 22-20 win in a 60-minute thriller, while Arif-Roy King overcame their senior compatriots Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong 21-12, 21-16 in another quarter-final.
There was more joy in the mixed doubles camp as both Malaysian pairs secured impressive wins to book their places in the semi-finals.
Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing pulled off an upset by beating second seeds Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi 21-12, 17-21, 21-18 to set up meeting against Indonesia’s Amri Syahnawi-Nita Marwah for a place in the final.
Top seeds Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will take on Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje today after edging past Indonesia’s Adnan Maulana-Indah Cahya Sari Jamil 21-17, 22-20 in the quarter-finals.
Should both pairs win, Malaysia will be assured of another all-Malaysian final in the mixed doubles.
