Badminton: Choong Hann Upsets Taufik To Meet Chong Wei In Final

JOHOR BAHARU, July 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysian men's singles veteran Wong Choong Hann scored a major upset when he defeated former Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat in the semifinals of the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament at the Johor Indoor Stadium here Sunday.

Choong Hann, the fourth seed, took the first set in 21-15 but though Taufik managed to make a fightback in the second, emerged victorious in 24-22.

He will have to contend with defending champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei in tomorrow's final.

In the other semifinal, Chong Wei, the top seed, made short work of India's Ajay Jayram and won the encounter in 21-16, 21-13.

The women's doubles also saw an upset when Ng Hui Ern and her elder sister Hui Lin despatched off Zhang Dan/Zhang Zhibo of Macau 21-10, 21-11 to make the final.

The national pair will square off against Thai pair Duanganong Aroonkesorn/Kunchala Varavichitchaikul in the final tomorrow.

The fourth seeded Thai pair booked their place in the final after defeating Indonesian pair Nadya Melati/Vita Marissa 13-21, 21-17, 21-17 in the other semifinal.

In men's doubles, national pair Mak Hee Chun/Tan Wee Kiongm who defeated Malaysia's top pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong in yesterday's quarterfinals, failed to get to the final.

They lost 13-21, 11-21 to Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Alvent Yulianto Chandra of Indonesia.

Hendra/Alvent will meet compatriots Hendra Setiawan/Markis Kido in the final.

The mixed doubles has Devin Lahardi Fitriawan/Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia taking on favourites Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam of Thailand in the final.

Source from BERNAMA