MALAYSIANS

Soon Huat-Shevon lose in final in Thailand Open

REPORTS BY FABIAN PETER fabian.mark@nst.com.my

GOH Soon Huat-Shevon Lai could not cap off their Thailand Open campaign with the title when they went down in the final yesterday. The Malaysian mixed doubles, who played exceptionally well last week, ran out of steam as they went down 21-13, 1621, 21-12 to China’s He Jiting-Du Yue.

The defeat was Soon Huat-Shevon’s second this year in a GP Gold final, after losing to teammates Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing at the Malaysia Masters in January.

BA of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, however, lauded the duo’s efforts, especially when they upset top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand in the semi-finals on Saturday.

“As our main pair for the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August, I think they did really well to reach the final,” said Norza when contacted.

“I am very proud of their fighting spirit, especially when they saw off the top seeded pair in the semi-finals.”

Jiting-Du Yue pocketed US$9,480 (RM40,574) in prize money while Soon Huat-Shevon settled for US$4,560 (RM19,516).

Soon Huat-Shevon, who were only paired last November, have won the Malaysia International Challenge and the Scottish Open last year.

The duo will next travel to Jakarta for the Indonesia Open Super Series this week.

FINAL RESULTS — Men's singles: B. Sai Praneeth (Ind) bt Jonatan Christie (Ina) 1721, 21-18, 21-19; Doubles: Berry AngriawanHardianto Hardianto (Ina) bt Raphael Beck-Peter Kaesbauer (Ger) 21-16, 21-16;

Women's singles: Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) bt Busanan Ongbumrungphan (Tha) 21-18, 12-21, 21-16; Doubles: Greysia PoliiApriyani Rahayu (Ina) bt Chayanit Chaladchalam-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) 2112, 21-12; Mixed doubles: Goh Soon HuatShevon Lai Jemie vs He Jiting-Du Yue (Chn) 21-13, 16-21, 21-12.