Rio 2016: Malaysia's mixed pair storms into first Olympics semifinals
Bernama
August 15, 2016 11:56 MYT
August 15, 2016 11:56 MYT
Chan Peng Soon (top) and Goh Liu Ying return to Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad and Indonesia's Liliyana Natsir during their mixed doubles qualifying badminton match at the Riocentro stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 13, 2016.- AFP PHOTO
The Malaysian mixed doubles pair of Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying made great strides to advance into the semifinals after a straight set win over a Polish combination at the Rio Olympic Games here, Sunday.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying took 46 minutes to book a slot in the last four, the best results in the Olympics after exiting at the group stage at the 2012 London Olympics.
The veteran combination for almost six years displayed a much improved understanding to win 21-17, 21-10 over Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Zieba of Poland in the quarterfinals.
However, the Malaysian pair will face Xu Chen-Ma Jin in the semis after the Chinese laboured 50 minutes to upset world second best, Ko Sung Hyun-Kim Ha Na of South Korea 21-17, 21-18 in another quarterfinal tie.
"Understanding between us has improved on the court and taking on the Chinese is a tall order as the record favours them," said Liu Ying.
However, we will once again do our best and take one game at a time, she
said after their match.
In the other semifinal, Monday, top seeded Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei will take on Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyanas Natsir.
The Chinese pair disposed Japan's Kenta Kazuno-Ayana Kurihara 21-14, 21-12 in the 46-minute encounter while third seeded Indonesians side-stepped compatriot Praveen Jordan/Debby Suxsanto 21-16, 21-11 in the other tie.