PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles pair Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan may have missed out on the China Masters title yesterday, but they still received a timely boost ahead of the Malaysian Masters starting tomorrow.
In the China Masters final at the Baoji City Gymnasium yesterday, Zi Yu-Noraqilah’s run ended after they went down 13-21, 17-21 to Japan’s Sumire Nakade-Miyu Takahashi.
Despite the defeat, it was still an encouraging outing for the Malaysians, who reached their second final of the year after winning the Estonian International in Tallinn in January.
“We’re happy to be able to stand on the podium today, but at the same time we are not satisfied because we did not play well,” said Zi Yu to Badminton Association of Malaysia.
“During the final, we were not consistent enough, perhaps because we were feeling nervous. That is something we need to improve on.
“For the Malaysian Masters this week, we hope to give our best in every match.”
Zi Yu-Noraqilah were initially slated to start their campaign in the qualifying rounds but they have now been promoted directly into the main draw, together with Cheng Su Hui-Tan Zhing Hui.
Still, Zi Yu-Noraqilah face a tough opening round test against China’s Bao Lijing-Cao Zihan, who captured the Thailand Open title in Bangkok after beating top seeds Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi of Japan yesterday.
Su Hui-Zhing Hui will take on fifth seeds Arisa Igarashi-Chiharu Shida.
Also in action are Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee, who will face Taiwan’s Hsieh Yi-en-Teng Chun-hsun, while Chong Jie Yu-Vanessa Ng will meet another Taiwanese pair, Chen Yan-fei-Sun Liang-ching.
Top seeds Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, meanwhile, await the winners from the qualifying rounds.
CHINA MASTERS
Men’s singles: Sun Chao (Chn) bt Riki Takei (Jpn) 21-12, 21-13.
Men’s doubles: Ma Shang-Shen Xuanyao (Chn) bt Shuntaro Mezaki-Yuta Oku 21-15, 19-21, 21-13.
Women’s singles: Yuan Anqi (Chn) bt Shriyanshi Valishetty (Ind) 21-14, 21-6.
Women’s doubles: Sumire Nakade-Miyu Takahashi (Jpn) bt Low Zi Yi-Noraqilah Maisarah (Mas) 21-13, 21-17.
Mixed doubles: Ma Xixiang-Qin Huizhi (Chn) bt Chan Yin Chak-Ng Tsz Yau (hkg) 25-23, 21-19.
THAILAND OPEN
Men’s singles: Anders Antonsen (Den) bt Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) 9-21, 24-22, 21-18.
Men’s doubles: Leo Carnando-Daniel Marthin (Ina) bt Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty (Ind) 21-12, 25-23.
Women’s singles: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) bt Chen Yufei (Chn) 21-14, 21-18.
Women’s doubles: Bao Lijing-Cao Zihan (Chn) bt Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 19-21, 21-16, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje (Den) bt Zhu Yijun-Li Qian (Chn) 21-17, 21-15.
