Timely boost
Vivian-Mei Kuan gear up for Gold Coast by reaching final in Vietnam
KUALA LUMPUR: Scratch pair Vivian HooChow Mei Kuan’s preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast is back on the right track.
Yesterday, the duo reached the final of the Vietnam International Challenge by winning the quarter-final and semi-final matches in a span of six hours in Hanoi.
They complemented each other well to beat Ruethaichanok Laisuan-Supamart Mingchua of Thailand 21-13, 21-15 in the quarter-finals and continued their fine form against Chen Hsiao-huan-Hu Ling-fang of Taiwan to win 21-10, 21-15 in the semi-finals.
They will take on the winners of the match between second seeds Baek Ha-na-Lee Yu-rim of South Korea and Erina Honda-Nozomi Shimizu of Japan for the title.
Vivian and Mei Kuan certainly made up for their quarter-final exit at the Malaysian Masters in January.
Vivian said it was a timely boost for the duo ahead of the Games from April 4-15.
Vivian won the gold with Woon Khe Wei at the Glasgow Games four years ago but in the absence of injury-plagued Khe Wei, she has been teamed up with Mei Kuan.
“This is our second international stint and our combination is getting much better,” said Vivian, who won the 2013 national title with Mei Kuan.
“Mei Kuan is shaping up well and hopefully, we can maintain our good form until the Commonwealth Games.
“We are discovering each other’s strength. The key for us is to improve on our game
plan. It can be polished up.
“I consider the Commonwealth Games the second most important event after the Olympics. So, I will go all out with Mei Kuan to make it a memorable outing,” added Vivian.
Meanwhile, Goh Giap Chin of New Vision Badminton Academy made it a great day for Malaysia when he stormed into the men’s singles final with a superb 15-21, 21-19, 21-12 win over Indonesian Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo in a one-hour semi-final match yesterday.
Earlier, the independent shuttler had stunned Badminton Association of Malaysia’s Chong Yee Han 24-22, 17-21, 21-13 in the quarter-finals.
He has set up a mouth-watering clash with Japan’s Kento Momota.
Malaysia will also have representatives in the men’s doubles final when Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik upset Taiwan’s Lee Sheng-mu-Lin Chia-yu 21-19, 17-21, 21-18 in yesterday’s semi-finals.
The duo face fifth seeds Maneepong Jongjit-Nathakarn Yordphaisong of Thailand in today’s final.