Rio 2016: Malaysia's mixed pair storms into first Olympics semifinals

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.