Indonesians too good for Peng Soon-Liu Ying

Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying could not get the better of Indonesia’s Tontowi AhmadLiliyana Natsir who successfully retained the Indonesia Open mixed doubles title in Jakarta yesterday.

The match, a repeat of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games final, saw the World No 3 Indonesian pair dominate in the 21-17, 21-8 win over Peng Soon-Liu Ying in just 38 minutes.

The defeat to Tontowi-Liliyana is the World No 15’s 10th from 11 meetings.

Peng Soon-Liu Ying, however, can hold their heads up high as they are the first Malaysian mixed doubles pair to reach the Indonesia Open final since the competition’s inception in 1982.

National mixed doubles coach Chin Eei Hui brushed aside pressure as being the main reason behind Peng Soon-Liu Ying’s defeat. “Tontowi-Liliyana were just too good,” said Eei Hui in Jakarta yesterday.

“Overall, their (Peng Soon-Liu Ying) performance here was so much more convincing, though I cannot say they have reached a consistent level yet.

“We will monitor them closely, especially at the World Championships (in Nanjing on July 30Aug 5).

“I see improvement, especially from Liu Ying who only returned this year from an injury.”

For the record, Peng Soon-Liu Ying have won two titles (Thailand Masters and US Open) this season.