Ow-Chooi upset Koo-Tan to annouce arrival on senior stage

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s world junior doubles champions Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming announced their arrival on the senior stage in dramatic fashion when they knocked out top seeds Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in the quarter-finals of the Kuala Lumpur Open in KLBA here yesterday.

The 2009 world junior champions caused the biggest upset of the day when they clawed back from 13-16 down in the decider to prevail 21-12, 16-21, 21-16.

It was the youngsters’ first meeting against Kien Keat-Boon Heong.

In fact, it was the duo’s maiden appearance in Division One of the National Badminton Circuit.

They will now take on Chan Peng Soon-Ong Jian Guo for a spot in the final.

Yao Han-Kah Ming showed remarkable temperament against the stars of the tournament – Kien Keat-Boon Heong – and were not owerawed at all. Instead, they put up a remarkable performance to outshine the seniors in the opening game.

Though the youngsters faltered in the second game, they managed to stage a superb comeback despite trailing 13-16 in the third game to win eight consecutive points for a well-deserved triumph.

Said Kah Ming: “This is our first meeting with Koo and Tan. It feels amazing to beat them. Our plan was to give them a run for their money but we outdid ourselves today.”

Enthused Yao Han: “It is a good win but we still have a long way to go. We have to train even harder to beat top class players consistently.”

Kien Keat-Boon Heong put on a brave front despite the shocking defeat.

“We did not take it easy ... it’s just that we did not get the tournament feeling. The boys served up fantastic shots but it was a bad day for us,” said Kien Keat.

“Our focus was not there. But all credit to the youngsters. They did well and we hope they will be able to keep on winning.”

The other semi-final will be between Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Ong Soon Hock.

In the men’s singles, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif will be out on a special mission – to complete a win over all the top second-liners in the national team – when he takes on Liew Daren today.

Yesterday, Arif defeated his senior Tan Chun Seang 21-12, 20-22, 21-19 in a 50-minute quarter-final match.

It was his second win over Chun Seang in a local tournament.

The crafty Arif has also beaten two others – Chan Kwong Beng and Chong Wei Feng, who trains with world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the elite squad.

Arif, whose best outing in the local circuit was finishing runner-up to Chong Wei in the Johor Open in 2009, trains under Indonesian Hendrawan and has shown rapid progress – especially in his physical conditioning.

Meanwhile, top seed Daren had to fend off a gutsy Mohd Syawal Ismail before prevailing 21-19, 27-25.

The other semi-final pits second seed Goh Soon Huat against Wei Feng.

Quarter final results

Men’s singles: Liew Daren bt Mohd Syawal Ismail 21-19, 27-25; Mohd Arif Abdul Latif bt Tan Chun Seang 21-12, 20-22, 21-9; Chong Wei Feng bt Iskandar Zulkanian Zainuddin 16-21, 21-18, 21-15; Goh Soon Huat bt Loh Wei Sheng 21-10, 21-15.

Men’s doubles: Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han bt Koo Kien Kiat-Tan Boon Heong 21-12, 16-21, 21-16; Chan Peng Soon-Ong Jian Guo bt Cheah Like Hou-Chow Pak Chuu 21-18, 21-13; Lim Khim Wah-Goh Wei Shem bt Tan Wee Tat-Tan Yip Jiun 21-13, 21-8; Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Ong Soon Hock bt Mohd Lufti Zaim-Vountus Indra Mawan 16-21, 21-11, 21-13.

Women’s singles: Lydia Cheah bt Ng Sin Er 21-15, 21-13; Tee Jing Yi bt Julia Wong 21-14, 21-11; Sonia Cheah bt Flora Ng 21-17, 21-7; Sannatasah Saniru bt Evelyn Chee 21-11, 21-10.

Women’s doubles: Lim Yin Loo-Vivian Hoo bt Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Yvonne Ong 21-14, 21-15; Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean bt Ooi Swee Wenn-Phoon Kah Yee 21-15, 23-21; Goh Liu Ying-Lai Pei Jing bt Sonia Cheah-Yang Li Lian 21-17, 21-17; Sannatasah Saniru-Tee Jing Yi bt Ng Poau Leng-Woon Khe Wei 22-24, 21-14, 21-19.

Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Pan Deck Loong-Yvonne Ong 21-5, 21-16; Hoon Thien How-Vivian Hoo bt Tan Wee Kiong-Lim Yin Loo 21-13, 21-19; Lim Khim Wah-Woon Khe Wei bt Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing 21-14, 21-17; Mohd Razif Latif-Amelia Alicia Anscelly bt Mohd Shahrizan Jambing-Soong Fie Cho 21-17, 21-16.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 9:27 AM. Filed under Top News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0