Chong Wei to face sparring partner Kwong Beng in semis

JOHOR BARU: It will be a duel between the master and the apprentice when Lee Chong Wei faces Chan Kwong Beng in the men’s singles semi-finals of the 2009 National Grand Prix Finals at the Bandaraya Stadium here today.

Although the money will be on Chong Wei, his sparring partner Kwong Beng is determined to give it a real go.

“I know that I don’t stand a chance of even nicking a set from him, but I will try my best to stretch the match longer and go for every ball,” said Kwong Beng yesterday.

“I train and spar with him week in, week out. And I can say that I won’t be overwhelmed by him when I step onto the court tomorrow (today).”

Kwong Beng made it to the semi-finals after disposing of Liew Daren 21-16, 22-20 to top Group C.

Chong Wei, meanwhile, had no problems brushing aside Mohd Arif Abdul Latif 21-9, 21-17 in Group A in 25 minutes.

The other semi-final will see Tan Chun Seang taking on Kuan Beng Hong.

Chun Seang beat Lim Fang Yang 21-11, 21-17 in Group B while Beng Hong ousted Mohd Roslin Hashim 21-12, 21-11 in Group D.

Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif proved their critics wrong to emerge as Group B winners in the men’s doubles event when they defeated former national pair Chan Choong Ming-Chew Choon Eng 21-11, 21-15 in 25 minutes.

Fairuzizuan-Zakry, who had come under fire after their first-round exit in the Malaysian Open last month, will come up against another former national pair of Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in today’s semi-finals.

Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong will face off against Goh Wei Shem-Vontus Indra Mawan in the other semi-final.

In the women’s singles, the Cheah sisters of Lydia and Sonia will put family ties aside in today’s semi-finals.

Yesterday, elder sister Lydia stormed past Ooi Swee Wenn 21-11, 21-6 to claim the top spot in Group A while Sonia lost to Tee Jing Yee 13-21, 18-21 to finish second in Group B.

Jing Yee and Yang Li Lian will square off in the other semi-final.

MEN’S SINGLES

Group A: Lee Chong Wei bt Mohd Arif Abdul Latif 21-9, 21-17; Ho Khek Meng bt Syed Akhbar Syed Mustakim 19-21, 21-11, 21-17.

Group B: Tan Chun Seang bt Lim Fang Yang 21-11, 21-17; Iskandar Zulkarnain bt Soo Kar Seong 21-18, 21-15.

Group C: Chan Kwong Beng bt Liew Daren 21-16, 22-20; Mohd Shahrizal AbdulLatip bt Muhd Syawal Ismail 21-10, 21-17.

Group D: Kuan Beng Hong bt Mohd Roslin Hashim 21-12, 21-11; Kuan Kam Chungw/o Goh Soon Huat.

MEN’S DOUBLES

Group A: Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah bt Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han 21-13,21-15; Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong bt Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah 21-9,21-10.

Group B: Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif bt Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng 21-11, 21-15; Goh Wei Shem-Vontus Indra Mawan bt Cheah Like Hou-Chow Pak Chuu 21-13, 16-21, 21-10.

WOMEN’S SINGLES

Group A: Lydia Cheah bt Ooi Swee Wenn 21-11, 21-6; Yang Li Lian bt Lim Yee Theng 21-8, 21-17.

Group B: Sannatasah Saniru bt Stephanie Sukumaran 21-12, 21-19; Tee Jing Yi bt Sonia Cheah 21-13, 21-18.

WOMEN’S DOUBLES

Group A: Chin Ee Hui-Wong Pei Tty bt Sannatasah Saniru-Tee Jing Yi 21-12,21-16; Lim Yee Theng-Ng Soo Mui bt Lai Pei Jing-Shevon Lai Jemie 8-21,21-15, 21-15.

Group B: Lydia Cheah-Ooi Swee Wenn bt Sonia Cheah-Yang Li Lian 21-18, 21-19;Lim Yin Loo-Ng Paou Leng bt Goh Liu Ying-Nairul Shuhada Abdul Latif 21-17,18-21, 21-14.

MIXED DOUBLES

Group A: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Mohd Lutfi Zaim-Lim Yin Loo 21-1-6,21-16; Lim Khim Wah-Ng Paou Leng bt Yew Hong Kheng-Ong Boon Hui 21-11,21-13.

Group B: Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Wong Pei Tty bt Ong Jian Guo-Chong Sook Chin 21-14, 21-17; Ow Yao Han-Lai Pei Jing bt Mohd Razif Latif-Nairul Shuhada Abdul Latif 21-12, 21-14.

SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES

Men’s singles:Lee Chong Wei vs Chan Kwong Beng; Kuan Beng Hong vs Tan Chun Seang.

Women’s singles: Lydia Cheah vs Sonia Cheah; Tee Jing Yee vs Yang Li Lian.

Men’s doubles: Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong vs Goh Wei Shem-Vontus Indra Mawan; Chong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah vs Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif.

Women’s doubles: Chin Ee Hui-Wong Pei Tty vs Goh Liu Ying-Nairul Shuhada Abdul Latif; Lim Yee Theng-Ng Soo Mui vs Lim Yin Loo-Ng Paou Leng

Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Lui Ying vs Ong Jian Guo-Chong Sook Chin;Lim Khim Wah-Paou Leng vs Fairuzizuan-Pei Tty.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 9:23 AM. Filed under News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0