Game over for shuttlers after mixed pair crash out in Jakarta

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s challenge in the Indonesian Open Grand Prix Gold at Yogyakarta came to an end when mixed doubles pair Ong Jian Guo-Lim Yin Loo went down fighting in the quarter-finals yesterday.

Jian Guo-Yin Loo, the world No. 37 and currently the third ranked pair in the country, fought gallantly for one hour and 14 minutes before losing 21-18, 19-21, 19-21 to Indonesians Edi Subaktiar-Gloria Emanuelle.

Withtheirnarrowdefeat, Malaysia’s interest in the tournament is over.

In the absence of Malaysia in the men’s singles event, Indonesia’s top four men singles players – Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Simon Santoso, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka and Tommy Sugiarto – lived up to their billings to check into the semi-finals yesterday.

Today, theseniorsSonyandSimon’s position will come under threat when they take on their younger compatriots Dionysius and Tommy respectively for places in the final.

There was a major upset in the men’s doubles when reigning world champions Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan were beaten 8-21, 21-19, 21-18 by their younger team-mates Ronald Alexander-Selvanus Geh.

Indonesia’s move to pair up former world champion Markis Kido with youngster Gideon Markus Fernaldi proved to be a hit when they dumped China’s Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen 21-16, 21-18 to set up a meeting with Ronald-Selvanus.