SEA Games snubs shine at Malaysian International Series

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Cheam June Wei and S. Kisona may not have made the cut for the SEA Games, but you won’t find them sulking at a corner.

Instead, they rose to the occasion to reach the semi-finals of the Malaysian International Series in Putrajaya yesterday in contrasting fashion.

June Wei continued his fine form to blow away India’s Chirag Sen 21-10, 21-15 in a 25-minute one-sided men’s singles quarter-final.

The 20-year-old will take on the in-form SEA Games-bound Lee Zii Jia for a place in the final.

The 19-year-old Zii Jia was impressive in his 21-14, 21-12 win over former Asian junior champion Soo Teck Zhi, who had complained of a sore shoulder before the start of the fifth-tier tournament.

The other semi-final will be between Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew and Malaysia’s Tan Jia Wei, who did well to upset teammate and two-time national champion Lim Chi Wing 21-12, 21-13.

Kisona then made heads turn when she battled for 59 minutes to beat SEA Games-bound and world No. 72 Lim Yin Fun 22-20, 19-21, 21-17.

Kisona, who will take on another national player – M. Thinaah – for a place in the final, was pleased to have come through a tough quarter-final match.

“The opening game was really tough. Yin Fun is more experienced and physically stronger. I learned from my mistakes and kept pace with her.

“What I learnt most was how to handle the pressure,” said world No. 190 Kisona, who is eyeing a second international title after clinching the Victor International Series in Indonesia in May.

The other women’s singles semi-final will be between top seed Lee Ying Ying of Malaysia and Thamolvan Poopradubsil of Thailand.