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Hong Kong Open

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong finally rose to the occasion to reach the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open with a stunning win over reigning Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia.

Yesterday, the duo blew away the top seeds and world No. 1 Markis-Hendra 21-11, 21-17 in just 21 minutes in the quarter-finals.

With the win, Kien Keat-Boon Heong have avenged their defeats to the Indonesians in the last two tournaments — the Beijing Games and French Open.

The Malaysians’ tame defeats in those two tournaments had raised doubts about their status as the country’s top pair.

Power pair: Koo Kien Keat (right) and Tan Boon Heong finally struck form by beating Indonesia’s Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan to reach the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open Friday.

Today, the Macau Open champions will take on compatriots Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari, thus assuring Malaysia of at least a place in the final.

Zakry-Fairuzizuan, who are determined to regain their winning touch in the Super Series, defeated South Koreans Cho Gun-woo-Yoo Yeon-seong 21-16, 12-21, 21-15 in the other quarter-final.

The duo’s form suffered a dip after the back-to-back Super Series wins in Singapore and Indonesia in June.

But yesterday, the show-stealers were definitely Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who have now virtually confirmed their place in the Super Series Masters Finals, which will be held in Kota Kinabalu from Dec 18-21.

National coach Rexy Mainaky said that there were positive vibes from both his players.

“I think the key to their win today (yesterday) was their positive approach throughout the game. Every shot was taken with confidence. They tried their best to enjoy the game,” said Rexy in a telephone interview.

“The Malaysians have lost to the Indonesians in the last two tournaments (out of eight meetings). But I think this was their best win against them. They were able to control the game and force their opponents to make mistakes.”

Rexy, however, noted that Markis had placed an ice-pack on his knee after the defeat.

“It looked as though that Markis was not in his best condition. But, having said that, I suppose they (Markis and Kido) would not have competed here if they were not fully fit,” he said.

Kien Keat, however, failed to make the semi-finals of the mixed doubles event with partner Ng Hui Lin when they crashed 18-21, 12-21 to China’s Zheng Bo-Ma Jin.

Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair of Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty continued their fine run in international tournaments when they checked into the semi-finals with a convincing 21-14, 21-15 win over Denmark’s Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Lena Frier Kristiansen.

The duo will take on China’s Zhang Yawen-Zhao Tingting today.

Today’s Match

HONG KONG OPEN

Channel : Astro SuperSport (811)
Date : Saturday, November 29, 2008
Time : 1:00:00 PM
Synopsis : BWF Super Series: Hong Kong Open 2008: Semi Finals
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1. Starting at 1:00 PM WD

Yawen ZHANG [5] CHN[CHN]
Tingting ZHAO CHN
-
MAS[MAS] Eei Hui CHIN [2]
MAS[MAS] Pei Tty WONG

2. Followed by MS
Boonsak PONSANA THA[THA]
-
CHN[CHN] Jin CHEN [3]

3. Followed by WS
Lin ZHU [5] CHN[CHN]
-
CHN[CHN] Xingfang XIE [4]

4. Followed by XD
Thomas LAYBOURN [6] DEN[DEN]
Kamilla RYTTER JUHL DEN[DEN]
-
KOR[KOR] Yong Dae LEE [5]
KOR[KOR] Hyo Jung LEE

5. Followed by MD
Kien Keat KOO [5] MAS[MAS]
Boon Heong TAN MAS[MAS]
-
MAS[MAS] Mohd Zakry ABDUL LATIF [4]
MAS[MAS] Mohd Fairuzizuan MOHD TAZARI

6. Starting at 6:30 PM XD
Zhongbo XIE [7] CHN[CHN]
Yawen ZHANG CHN[CHN]
-
CHN[CHN] Bo ZHENG
CHN[CHN] Jin MA

7. Followed by WS
Chen WANG HKG[HKG]
-
HKG[HKG] Mi ZHOU [2]

8. Followed by MS
Taufik HIDAYAT [7] INA[INA]
-
CHN[CHN] Dan LIN [2]

9. Followed by WD
Shu CHENG [8] CHN[CHN]
Yunlei ZHAO CHN[CHN]
-
KOR[KOR] Jung Eun HA [7]
KOR[KOR] Min Jung KIM

10. Followed by MD
Jae Sung JUNG [3] KOR[KOR]
Yong Dae LEE KOR[KOR]
-
ENG[ENG] Anthony CLARK
ENG[ENG] Nathan ROBERTSON