EMBARRASSMENT was avoided thanks to scratch mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Lai Pei Jing as Malaysia struggled past Singapore to keep their hopes of defending the mixed team gold alive at the Emirates Arena yesterday.
Malaysia won 3-2, with men’s singles Chong Wei Feng and doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong delivering the expected points, but it was touch and go beyond that as Singapore launched a ferocious effort to score a famous win.
That looked to be on the cards when Peng Soon-Pei Jing lost the first game 17-21 but the pair showed nerves of steel as they pulled themselves back to win 21-12, 21-14 to steer Malaysia into the final against either England or India today.
V Shem-Wee Kiong started the ball rolling for Malaysia when they beat Danny Chrisnanta-Chayut Triyachart 21-17, 18-21, 21-16, needing 56 minutes to subdue the Singaporeans.
Then came Tee Jing Yi but she was blown off the court by Liang Xiaoyu 21-12 before offering a stiffer fight in the second game, which was to no avail as the Singaporean won 22-20.
Wei Feng, a hero of the Thomas Cup campaign, faced no such problems as he dictated play from the start to easily see off the challenge of Derek Wong 21-9, 21-18.
Malaysia were back in the lead again but Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Kah were no match for Shinta Mulia Sari-Yao Lei, who won 21-9, 21-18.
Then came Peng Soon-Pei Jing and they succeeded where Khe Wei-Vivian failed as Malaysia advanced to the final.