PETALING JAYA: National doubles pair Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Mohd Haikal Nazri’s swan song at the Taiwan Masters ended two points short of a first World Tour semi-final together.
In their final tournament as a pair, the world No. 77 men’s doubles shuttlers forced a decider before going down 19-21, 21-16, 19-21 to Indonesia’s fifth seeds Taufik Aderya-Alexius Ongkytama Subagio in the quarter-final at the Kaohsiung Arena yesterday.
A day earlier, Bryan-Haikal had come from a game down to upset Taiwan’s second seeds Lin Chia-yen-Lin Yong-sheng.
They nearly pulled off another comeback against Taufik-Alexius, who had also beaten them in straight games at the Surabaya International Challenge in September.
Bryan-Haikal were paired together after Haikal split with Choong Hon Jian and made their debut at the Thailand Open in May.
Their best run together came a month later when they reached the semi-finals of the Phuket International Challenge.
Haikal is now set to reunite with former partner Wan Arif Wan Junaidi at the Syed Modi International from Nov 24-29. Bryan’s next partner has yet to be confirmed.
Malaysia still have two chances to reach a final in Kaohsiung, with both remaining pairs up against home opposition.
Mixed doubles fourth seeds Wee Yee Hern-Vannee Gobi booked their first World Tour semi-final together with a straight-games win over Taiwan’s Lu Chen-Chang Yun-jung.
The world No. 83 pair next face Lin Sheng-ming-Sun Liang-ching, who have already knocked out Malaysia’s second seeds Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien.
Women’s doubles top seeds Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting bounced back after dropping the second game against Taiwan’s Chou Yun-an-Ko Ruo-hsuan to reach their first semi-final since the Macau Open in June.
The world No. 26 pair will take on Lin Yen-yu-Wang Yi-zhen, who came from a game down to beat compatriots Hsieh Mi-yen-Yu Chien-hui in the last eight.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s men’s singles challenge ended in the quarter-finals as top seed Justin Hoh fell in straight games to Taiwan’s Kuo Kuan-lin, who had also knocked out Kok Jing Hong.
Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin forced a decider against South Korea’s Kim Hae-deun before bowing out.
Q-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Cho Geon-Yeop (Kor) bt Kantaphon Wangcharoen (Tha) 21-11, 21-12; Hae Deun-Kim (Kor) bt Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (Mas) 21-16, 13-21, 21-17; Kuo Kuanlin (Tpe) bt Justin Hoh (Mas) 21-15, 23-21; Rei Miyashita (Jpn) bt Richie Richardo (Ina) 14-21, 21-12, 22-20.
Women’s singles: Ni Kadek Pratiwi (Ina) bt Xiao-Ting Su (Tpe) 22-20, 6-21, 21-18; Yuan Chiliao (Tpe) bt Peng Yuwei (Tpe) 21-13, 21-16; Mutiara Puspitasari (Ina) bt Sakura Masuki (Jpn) 21-7, 17-21, 21-16; Lo Sin Yan Happy (Hkg) bt Chen Suyu (Tpe) 21-3, 21-9.
Men’s doubles: Taufik Aderya-Alexius Ongkytama Subagio (Ina) bt Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Mohd Haikal Nazri (Mas) 21-19, 16-21, 21-19; Eng Keat Wesley Koh-Jia Hao Howin Wong (Sin) bt Kai Yihuang-Sheng-Ming Lin (Tpe) 21-18, 21-16; Cheng Kaiwan-Liao Chaopang (Tpe) bt Ping Hsuanchen-Wei Tinglee (Tpe) 21-13, 23-21; Chuang Ko-Chi-Lu Chen (Tpe) bt Naoya Kawashima-Kota Ogawa (Jpn) 18-21, 21-8, 21-13.
Womens doubles: Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting (Mas) bt Chou Yunan-Ruo Hsuanko (Tpe) 21-13, 20-22, 21-12; Lin Yenyu-Wang Yizhen (Tpe) bt Hsieh Miyen-Yu Chienhui (Tpe) 17-21, 21-19, 22-20; Mikoto Aiso-Momoha Niimi (Jpn) bt Yan Feichen-Liang Chingsun (Tpe) 23-21, 21-16; Isyana Meida-Rinjani Nastine (Ina) bt Liang Tingyu-Jia Yinlin (Tpe) 21-7, 20-22, 21-15,
Mixed doubles: Wee Yee Hern-Vannee Gobi (Mas) bt Lu Chen-Yun Jungchang (Tpe) 21-12, 21-14; Jafar Hidayatullah-Rinjani Nastine (Ina) 21-17, 21-12; Sheng-Ming Lin-Liang Chingsun (Tpe) bt Ho Wen-Hsun-Chia-Yi Kung (Tpe) 21-19, 21-14; Ki Dong-ju-Jeong Na-eun (Kor) bt Mutsuki Ampo-Aya Tamaki (Jpn) 21-19, 21-18.
