PETALING JAYA: Malaysian mixed doubles pair Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien are making waves on the international badminton circuit, achieving a significant milestone by reaching the quarterfinals of the Korean Open for the first time this year. This breakthrough performance has the young duo setting their sights on even greater achievements.
In a thrilling second-round encounter at the Suwon Gymnasium, Tien Ci and Chiew Sien pulled off a stunning upset against the formidable South Korean favorites, lee Jong-min and Chae Yu-jung. The Malaysian underdogs battled back from a set down, ultimately clinching the match wiht a hard-fought 9-21, 21-15, 21-17 victory.
This win is particularly noteworthy given Chae Yu-jung’s remarkable pedigree, having clinched the world title in 2023 with her former partner Seo Seung-jae. For the autonomous Malaysian pair, currently ranked No. 35 in the world,this victory is a testament to their resilience and fighting spirit. Despite a slow start and dropping the first game, they showcased remarkable determination to overcome the pressure and silence the home crowd.
“We are very happy. This is considered a small breakthrough for us,” expressed Chiew Sien, reflecting on the momentous win.”We stuck to our game plan and it worked well for us.” She added with a persistent tone, “But the job is not done yet.Hopefully, we can continue the momentum and keep getting more breakthroughs in our careers.”
The path ahead, though, remains challenging. Tien Ci and Chiew Sien are set to face the formidable Danish duo of Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje in the quarterfinals. Christiansen and Boje are no strangers to success, having claimed titles at the Macau Open and the Indonesian Masters, proving they are a force to be reckoned with on the World Tour.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian mixed doubles pair, Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie, also secured their spot in the quarterfinals. They defeated China’s Gao Jia Xuan and Wu meng Ying with a convincing 21-16, 21-13 scoreline. their next challenge will be a daunting clash against the world’s top-ranked pair, Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin of China.
Unfortunately, Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s doubles concluded with the defeat of Mohd Haikal Nazri and Choong Hon Jian. They were overcome by the experienced japanese duo of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, the 2021 world champions, with a score of 17-21, 11-21.
Korean Open Results (Malaysian Players):
Second Round:
* Men’s Singles: Anders Antonsen (DEN) def. Justin Hoh (MAS) 21-17, 21-11.
* mixed Doubles: Wong tien Ci-Lim chiew Sien (MAS) def. Lee Jong-min-chae Yu-jung (KOR) 9-21, 21-15, 21-17.
* Mixed Doubles: Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (MAS) def. Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying (CHN) 21-16, 21-13.
First Round:
* Men’s Doubles: Jin Yong-Na Sung-seung (KOR) def. Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (MAS) 21-18, 21-16.
