The Star Malaysia

Sizzling show

Meng Yean-Mei Kuan outclass South Koreans to make semis

- By RAJES PAUL

Lee Meng Yean-Chow Mei Kuan continued to sizzle at the Korea Masters – storming into the women’s doubles semi-finals in style.

World No. 24 Meng Yean-Mei Kuan blew away South Korea’s Chae Yoo-jung-Kim Hye-rin 21-17, 21-8 in just 29 minutes in the quarter-finals at the Yeomju Gymnasium in Gwangju City yesterday.

This will be Meng Yean-Mei Kuan’s second semi-final appearance in a Grand Prix Gold tour- nament. The national No. 2 also made it to the Macau Open last four last year.

It’s only their second semi-final this season, having also reached the last four of the third-tier Vietnam Open Grand Prix in September.

They will take on South Korean Kim So-yeongKong Hee-yong next.

Although unseeded, the South Korean pair could be a tough nut to crack.

On Thursday, the South Koreans ousted top seeds and Kuala Lumpur SEA Games champions Jongkolpha­n Kititharak­ul-Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand in the second round.

No wonder Meng Yean wasn’t in the mood to rejoice making the semi-finals.

“We’re happy to reach the semi-finals but the task is far from over. We’ll have to stay focused against a strong Korean pair tomorrow (today),” said Meng Yean.

Said national doubles head coach Wong Pei Tty: “Meng Yean-Mei Kuan have always ended up losing against the top pairs despite pushing them to the limit. Hopefully, they can go for a strong finish here.”

 ??  ?? Solid display: Chow Mei Kuan (front) and Lee Meng Yean beat South Korea’s Chae Yoo-jungKim Hye-rin 21-17, 21- 8 in the quarterfin­als of the Korea Masters at the Yeomju Gymnasium in Gwangju City yesterday.
Solid display: Chow Mei Kuan (front) and Lee Meng Yean beat South Korea’s Chae Yoo-jungKim Hye-rin 21-17, 21- 8 in the quarterfin­als of the Korea Masters at the Yeomju Gymnasium in Gwangju City yesterday.

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