Malaysia will have four doubles pairs in the semi-finals of the French Open badminton championships.
The Malaysian charge is led by their top national women’s pair of Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan, who cruised pass the Bulgaria’s Stoeva sisters Gabriela and Stefani 21-12, 21-15 in their quarter-final tie.
After seemingly in struggling form in the previous rounds, the Malaysian duo upped the tempo to outplay the sisters and will take on third seeded Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi of Japan in the semi-finals, The Japanese duo defeated teammates Ririna Hiramoto-Chiharu Shida 21-18, 16-21, 21-15 in their quarter-final tie.
While Pearly-Thinaah moved ahead, Malaysian veterans Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik failed to advance after they retired trailing 0-5 in their last eight tie against teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun will play Indonesians Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin, who defeated China’s Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi 23-21, 21-18, in the semi-finals today.
Malaysia will also have a second men’s doubles in the semi-finals after Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin stunned world No. 1 Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea 21-15, 21-18 in their last eight tie.
Also through to the semi-finals are the Malaysian mixed doubles pair of Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing , who ended the gallant run of unseeded Marvin Seidel-Nguyen Thuc Phuong of Germany 21-17, 20-22, 21-18. The German pair had dumped second seeds and one of the title favourites Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin of China 21-17, 14-21, 22-20 in second round on Thursday and also beaten compatriots Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in the opener.
Before this week, Hina Akechi had never gone beyond the second round at a Super 750.
Now the Japanese has stormed into the women’s singles semifinals – without dropping a game. Michelle Li, second seed Wang Zhi Yi and fifth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani – all higher-ranked, swept aside in Paris.
“I am very happy but also tired,” giggled Akechi after her 21-17 21-18 win over Wardani on Friday.
“I finished late, so I ate a lot and tried to stretch well. I wouldn’t say I am a good cook but I bought my rice cooker with me and I made some food with it. My confidence is pretty high after beating two top players in the tournament. I’m very excited to play in my first Super 750 semifinal. It’s my first time playing Pusarla V.Sindhu too. She’s tall so I think she may have me run a lot in the match.”
France’s hopes remain firmly intact after Alex Lanier came through an all-French men’s singles quarter-final against Toma Junior Popov to reach the last four on home soil.
The reigning world champion recovered from a game down to defeat Popov 16-21 21-16 21-16, raising his level when it mattered most to keep his title bid alive in Paris.
Lanier admitted he found himself battling more than just his opponent.
“I told my coach that I was definitely stressed. Mentally I didn’t feel comfortable on court and, especially physically, my legs were not responding the way I wanted. I was doubting myself a lot. After losing the first game, a few thoughts crossed my mind. Should I give up? Should I just go home, go to the beach or get some rest?
“But I’m not like that anymore. I’m trying to push through those moments. It’s a good experience for me to learn how to go that far.”
Having come through his toughest test of the week, the 21-year-old will now face Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah, who booked his place in a maiden Super 750 semifinal with a 21-15 21-13 victory over Chi Yu Jen. The world No.28 acknowledged the significance of the achievement.
“I am very happy. Reaching a Super 750 semifinal for the first time is another milestone for me this year. I didn’t expect it, but I always learn from every match I play, evaluating both my wins and losses. I try to take the positives from every opportunity and I’m grateful to have made it this far.”
Ubaidillah revealed he grew up idolising some of the sport’s greatest names.
“Taufik Hidayat, Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei are my role models. Their journeys have inspired me since I was young. Right now, though, I see Alex Lanier as a player who is building an excellent career.”
The semifinal will mark the pair’s first meeting.
Christo Popov continued France’s impressive day in Paris, beating Kodai Naraoka 21-15 21-16 to reach the semifinals.
Reigning world champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue soon followed, fighting past Wu Guan Xun/Lee Chia Hsin 21-23 21-12 21-14 to keep home hopes burning on another memorable day for the hosts.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Alex Lanier (Fra) bt Toma Junior Popov (Fra) 16-21, 21-16, 21-16; Christo Popov (Fra) bt Kodai Naraoka (Jpn) 21-15, 21-16; Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah (Ina) bt Chi Yu Jen (Tpe) 21-15, 21-13; Hu Zhean (Chn) bt Alwi Farhan (Ina) 21-19, 21-12
Men’s doubles: Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin (Ina) bt Kang Min-hyuk-Lee Jong-min (Kor) 21-14, 21-19; Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin (Mas) bt Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) 21-15, 21-18; Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin (Ina) bt Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi (Chn) 23-21, 21-18 ; Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (Mas) bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) 5-0 rtd
Women’s singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Han Yue (Chn) 21-13, 21-16; P.V. Sindhu (Ind) bt Chiu Pin-Chian (Tpe) 21-13, 21-14; Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) bt Ashmita Chaliha (Ind) 21-10, 17-21,21-16; Hina Akechi (Jpn) bt Putri Kusuma Wardani (Ina) 21-17, 21-18
Women’s doubles: Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan (Mas) bt Gabriela Stoeva-Stefani Stoeva (Bul) 21-12, 21-15; Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto (Jpn) bt Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Ina) 21-17, 21-18; Rachel Allessya Rose-Febi Setianingrum (Ina) bt Hinata Suzuki-Nao Yamakita (Jpn) 18-21, 21-16, 21-16; Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi (Jpn) bt Ririna Hiramoto-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) 21-18, 16-21, 21-15
Mixed doubles: Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui (Chn) bt Mathias Christiansen-Alexandre Boje (Den) 12-21, 21-9, 21-9; Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue (Fra) bt Wu Guan Xun-Lee Chia Hsin (Tpe) 21-23, 21-12, 21-14; Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing (Mas) bt Marvin Seidel-Thuc Phuong Nguyen (Ger) 21-17, 20-22, 21-18; Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Amri Syahnawi-Nita Violina Marwah (Ina) 13-21, 21-13, 21-13
