KUALA LUMPUR: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong checked into the semi-finals of the World Superseries Finals in Dubai on Thursday with one more group match to play.
Malaysia’s No 1 men’s doubles showed great determination when they clawed back up from a game down to see off China’s Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen 18-21, 21-19, 21-19 in their second Group B tie yesterday.
After receiving a walkover on Wednesday following the withdrawal of Denmark’s Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen, V Shem-Wee Kiong will face another China pair Chai Biao-Hong Wei next to determine the group winners.
Only the top two pairs from each group qualifies for the knockout stage.
In the men’s singles, World No 1 Lee Chong Wei who suffered a shocking defeat to South Korea’s Son Wan Ho on Wednesday, bounced back in style to defeat Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long 21-15, 22-20.
“Today’s match was definitely way better than my first here in Dubai.
“It all boils down to my own mindset. Perhaps due to my injury and absence from international tournaments in the last two months, I am a little paranoid.
“I am afraid to overstrain myself. It’s okay, now that I have won a match I am ready to go give my best in the final group tie,” said Chong Wei.
The 34-year-old three-time Olympic silver medallist plays Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen on Friday.
However, it was the end of the road for women’s doubles Vivian Hoo Kah Mun-Woon Khe Wei who crashed out of the tournament after going down 21-19, 21-17 to South Korea’s Jung Kyung Eun-Shin Seung Chan in Group B.
Vivian-Khe Wei who lost their opening tie to Denmark’s Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christinna Pedersen, face China’s Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan in their final group tie.