It’s revenge time!
Soon Huat-Shevon to play Thai pair in Singapore Open semi-finals
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie have been handed a golden chance to make quick amends in the semi-finals of the Singapore Open.
Second seeds Soon Huat-Shevon have set up an intriguing re-match against Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai after winning their quarter-final match without much problems yesterday.
The Malaysians defeated Rinov RivaldyPitha Haningtyas Mentari of Indonesia 21-17, 21-13 while the Thais were in their element to knock out Chang Tak Ching-Ng Wing Yung of Hong Kong 18-21, 21-8, 21-16 in a quarter-final match that went down to the wire.
World No. 8 Soon Huat-Shevon suffered a big blow last month when they lost to Dechapol-Sapsiree in the first round of the Celcom Axiata Malaysian Open at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. It was their first defeat to the Thais in four meetings.
The other semi-final will be an all-Indonesian affair with top seeds Tontowi AhmadLilyana Natsir taking on Akbar Bintang Cahyono-Winny Oktavina Kandow for a place in the final.
National mixed doubles head coach Pang Cheh Chang hoped Soon Huat-Shevon would turn the tables against the Thais.
“The matches between these two pairs are always close. It was unfortunate that the Thais beat them at the home tournament,” said Cheh Chang.
This is the chance for Soon Huat and Shevon to settle the score.
Soon Huat-Shevon, who have yet to win a major title, are looking for a breakthrough in the Singapore Open. Their best achievement this year was when they won the German Open title in March.
“There are improvements in the mixed doubles department but Soon Huat-Shevon’s challenge is to go one level higher. This is an opportunity for them to prove themselves,”
said Cheh Chang.
“There is a gap between them and the top five pairs in the world. They need to win big to gain valuable ranking points. Hopefully, they will be able to go all the way here.”
A good showing will also put them in good stead ahead of the World Championships in Nanjing, China, from July 30-Aug 5.
Soon Huat-Shevon are the only Malaysians left in the Singapore Open following the exits of independent shuttlers Chong Wei Feng and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayob in the men’s singles and doubles events respectively.