BANGKOK, May 18 — Malaysian women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah stormed to a 21-18, 21-12 semi-final win over Japan’s Rui Hirokami-Sayaka Hobara in the Thailand Open at the Nimibutr Stadium here yesterday.
The world No.4 Malaysians took just 45 minutes to subdue the Japanese pair and set up a title showdown against South Korea’s Jeong Na Eun-Lee Yeon Woo, who had earlier disposed of Taiwan’s Hsu Ya Ching-Sung Yu Hsuan 21-17, 21-19 in the other semi-final match.
Thinaah admitted they got off to a slightly nervy start as their opponents caught them off guard.
“After the first-game interval, and some advice from our coaches, we focused on sticking to our own strategy. That helped us regain control of the match,” she told Bernama.
Pearly, meanwhile, said after resolving the initial hiccup, their decision to pressure their opponents proved effective.
“Our rotation and attacking strategy worked well, causing our opponents a lot of trouble. We hope to maintain this momentum in the final against the South Koreans tomorrow,” she said.
In January, Pearly-Thinaah came close to winning their first World Tour title before going down 12-21, 21-17, 18-21 to South Korea’s Kim Hye-jeong-Kong Hee-yong in the Indonesia Masters final.
In the men’s doubles, unseeded Danish pair William Kryger Boe-Christian Faust Kjaer caused a major upset by sending Indonesian top seeds Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto packing 21-13, 21-12 in just 33 minutes.
The world No.75 Danes will face reigning Asian men’s doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in tomorrow’s final after the Malaysians took 38 minutes to overcome home favourites and fifth-seeded Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh of Thailand, 21-17, 21-13 in the other semi-final.
— Bernama
