Ivan-Rachel battle into Asian mixed final but sad ending for Syafiq-Aifa

No easy feat: Rachel Arnold and Ivan Yuen (inset) survived a stern test when they came from behind to beat India’s Abhay Singh-Anahat Singh 10-11, 11-4, 11-6.

PETALING JAYA: It was a day of contrasting fortunes for Ivan Yuen-Rachel Arnold and Syafiq Kamal-Aifa Azman in the inaugural Asian Mixed Doubles Championship in Hangzhou yesterday.

Second seeds Ivan-Rachel survived a stern test when they came from behind to beat Indian pair Abhay Singh-Anahat Singh 10-11, 11-4, 11-6 but Syafiq-Aifa could not make it a grand day after falling in the last four.

Syafiq-Aifa fell 9-11, 6-11 to India’s top pair Harinder Pal Sandhu-Deepika Pallikal Karthik and the defeat should serve as a warning to Malaysia ahead of the Asian Games, which will be played at the same venue from Sept 23-Oct 8.

Ivan was happy that they managed to make the necessary adjustments to outplay Abhay-Anahat after getting their tactics wrong at the start.

“We made slight adjustments in between the first and second games, and hung on there to pull though,” said Ivan.

“We are happy for the win and hopefully, it will be a much better performance from us in the final.”

Meanwhile, national director of coaching Major (rtd) S. Maniam said both matches had given him an insight into what needs to be done ahead of the Asiad.

“Ivan and Rachel started well but focused too much on attacking Anahat but it did not help,” said Maniam.

“However, they were able to change their gameplan, opened up the play and won comfortably after that.

“The second match between Syafiq-Aifa and Harinder-Deepika was played at a furious pace and most of the action was taking place in Aifa’s side.

“They tried to distribute the play to both sides but it didn’t quite happen the way we wanted and they lost in two.

“A lot of learning here. We hope to go back, review and be better prepared for the Asian Games.”

Harinder-Deepika have already beaten two of the three Malaysians pairs – after having overcome Addeen Idrakie-Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi in the quarter-finals – and will be aiming for Ivan-Rachel’s scalp in the final.

However, Ivan-Rachel have been improving with each match and the experienced Malaysians will be going all out to stop the Harinder-Deepika juggernaut in Hangzhou today.

RESULTS

Semi-finals: Ivan Yuen-Rachel Arnold (Mas) bt Abhay Singh-Anahat Singh (Ind) 10-11, 11-4, 11-6; Harinder Pal Sandhu-Deepika Pallikal Karthik (Ind) bt Syafiq Kamal-Aifa Azman (Mas) 11-9, 11-6.