Former world number ones await Jin Wei, Ying Ying in quarters
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Jin Wei and Lee Ying Ying advanced into the women’s singles quarterfinals of the Malaysia Masters 2018 at Axiata Arena, KL Sports City, Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Fast rising Jin Wei, 18, took only 31 minutes to defeat Pai Yu Po of Taiwan, 21-11, 21-11, while Ying Ying laboured for one hour to defeat Aya Ohori of Japan, 2118, 17- 21, 21-11, in second round matches.
Jin Wei will have to step up her game in the quarter- final against former world number one, Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, who struggled to defeat Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland, 9-21, 25-23, 21-14.
“Ratchanok is a former world champion and an experienced player. I will give my best in front of the Malaysian supporters. I just want to focus on my game,” she added.
Ying Ying, 20, will face another former world number one, Carolina Marin of Spain, who easily defeated Mette Poulsen of Denmark, 21-15, 21-11.
Meanwhile, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong are expected to face a tough hurdle when they meet world No. 4, Liu Cheng- Zhang Nan of China in the men’s doubles quarter-finals.
V Shem-Wee Kiong, who have been paired again recently, easily swept aside compatriots Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi in straight sets, 21-17, 21-17 in 32 minutes.
V Shem-Wee Kiong showed good teamwork and combined well to stay ahead.
“We have not lost much of our effective combination. We hope to garner as many titles as possible this year.
“We have always been motivating each other in every game. We have a big task tomorrow so we will definitely give our best,” V Shem to reporters after the match.
Liu Cheng-Zhang Nan crushed Hiroyuki Endo-Yuta Watanabe of Japan 21-11, 21-13 in 34 minutes to advance to the quarter-finals.
In their past three encounters against Liu Cheng- Zhang Nan, V Shem- Wee Kiong emerged victorious in two of them in 2016.
On yesterday’s match, V Shem said they were familiar with Yew Sin- Ee Yi’s game as they had practised with them during training at Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
“Perhaps we could read their game and were able to kil l the shuttle faster,” he said. — Bernama