Boon Heong-Hendra’s title shot at China Masters ends in semis

PETALING JAYA: Tan Boon Heong-Hendra Setiawan’s dream run ended in the semi-finals of the China Masters.

The world No. 56, making their first semi-final appearance since teaming up in January, faltered towards the end as they lost 14-21, 21-13, 18-21 to top seeds Chen Hung-ling-Wang Chi-lin of Taiwan in Changsha yesterday.

Boon Heong-Hendra were on the verge of making their first final appearance when they overcame a first game loss to lead 17-15 in the deciding rubber.

But fortune deserted them and the Taiwanese world No. 13 went on to book their final spot.

Hung-ling-Chi-lin will face Japan’s Takuto Inoue-Yuki Kaneko for the title.

The fifth seeded Japanese thrashed Indonesia’s Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto 21-9, 21-13 in the other semi-final.

In men’s singles, China’s Tian Houwei and Lin Dan enjoyed contrasting fortunes in their bids to qualify for the Glasgow World Championships in August.

World No. 9 Houwei, who is eighth on the Race to Glasgow rankings, stormed into the final after edging compatriot Huang Yuxiang 21-18, 17-21, 21-6.

Lin Dan, who is in 10th spt, fell short as he lost 16-21, 21-15, 14-21 to compatriot – world No. 23 Qiao Bin.

But the five-time world champion and Houwei are still expected to move up the rankings.

Defending world champion Chen Long is expected to drop down the list as he has not competed since a quarter-final defeat at the Malaysian Open earlier this month.

A country can have up to four singles players in the world meet if they are in the top eight. Shi Yuqi is leading the Chinese challenge in fifth spot.