Pang Ron-Yen Wei reach first semis of international tourney

PETALING JAYA: Hoo Pang RonPeck Yen Wei can’t stop smiling after reaching their first semi-finals in an international tournament since being paired up 15 months ago.

The world No. 65 defeated India’s S. Sunjith-K.P. Sruthi 21-14, 21-18 in the mixed doubles quarter-finals of the India International Challenge – a fourth-tier tournament – at the Brabourne Stadium yesterday.

They will take on Mak Hee ChunYeung Nga Ting of Hong Kong in today’s semi-finals and the 21-yearold Yen Wei is simply ecstatic.

“I’ve been playing with Pang Ron since August last year, but we’ve never gone beyond the quarter-finals. This is an achievement for us,” said Yen Wei.

The duo have played 13 international tournaments and their best result before this was a quarter-final finish at the Smiling Fish International Challenge in Thailand in May.

“This also makes up for our firstround defeat at last week’s India International Series, where we were the top seeds. Hopefully, we’ll keep the momentum going,” said Yen Wei.

Chen Tan Jie-Goh Liu Ying also scrapped through to the mixed doubles semi-finals with a hard-fought 21-19, 20-22, 21-15 win over former international K. Yogendran and his India partner Parjakta Sawant.

The reigning India International Series champions will face Chang Tak Ching-Ng Wing Yung of Hong Kong next.

There was good news in men’s doubles when Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik upstaged top seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty 11-21, 21-17, 21-10 to reach the semi-finals. They will meet Chan Tsz Kit-Chang Tak Ching of Hong Kong next.

In women’s singles, Malaysia’s M. Thinaah will take on Gadde Ruthvika Shivani of India for a place in the final.