Aidil eyes glory as long wait for title nears end


PETALING JAYA: Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (pic) will get the chance to end his 18-month wait for a title after reaching the Vietnam Open final.

The independent men’s singles shuttler came from a game down to beat Japan’s Minoru Koga 14-21, 21-15, 21-17 in the semi-finals at the Nguyen Du Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday.

The win also made up for his defeat to Koga in their first meeting at the Thailand International Challenge in Korat three years ago.

Standing between Aidil and the title today is Singapore’s top seed Jason Teh.

The world No. 33, however, has beaten Jason before, winning their quarter-final clash at the Malaysia Super 100 in Kuala Lumpur three years ago.

Aidil last lifted a title at the Sri Lanka International Challenge last year, where he beat India’s Pranay Katta in the final.

Meanwhile, Choong Hon Jian-Wong Vin Sean missed out on a place in the men’s doubles final after losing 17-21, 19-21 to Taiwan’s top seeds Chen Zhi-ray-Lin Yu-chieh.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Men’s singles: Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (Mas) bt Minoru Koga (Jpn) 14-21, 21-15, 21-17; Jason Teh (Sin) bt HS Prannoy (Ind) 21-13, 21-8.

Men’s doubles: Chen Zhi-ray-Lin Yu-chieh (Tpe) bt Choong Hon Jian-Wong Vin Sean (Mas) 21-17, 21-19; Terry Hee-Howin Wong (Sin) bt Chen Junting-Huang Di (Chn) 21-17, 8-21, 24-22.

Women’singles: Sarunsak Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Tanvi Sharma (Ind) 21-19, 22-20; Isharani Baruah (Ind) bt Rakshitha Sree (Ind) 21-10, 21-18.

Women’s doubles: Kim Yu-jung-Lee Yu-lim (Kor) bt Tidapron Kleebyeesun-Nattamon Laisuan (Tha) 21-9, 17-21, 23-21; Liu Jiayue-Wang Zimeng (Chn) bt Chou Yun-an-Ko Ruo-hsuan (Tpe) 13-21, 21-14, 21-18.

Mixed doubles: Phuwanat Horbanluekit-Fungfa Korpthammakit (Tha) bt Wu Guan-xun-Lee Chia-hsin (Tpe) 26-24, 21-16; Ma Xixiang-Qin Huizhi (Chn) bt Li Hongyi-Huang Kexin (Chn) 21-18, 17-21, 21-15.

 

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