KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing’s impressive run at the Singapore Open came to an end on Saturday when they crashed out of the semi-finals.
Having failed to clear the second round of a Super Series prior to the Singapore meet, the Malaysian world No 10 mixed duo lost 18-21, 21-11, 21-14 to Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
The defeat also ended Malaysia’s interest in the competition.
National mixed doubles coach Chin Eei Hui, concluded that Kian Meng-Pei Jing are still inexperienced in handling difficult situations and are also not strong mentally.
“Going into this match, we have a 50-50 chance of winning,” said Eei Hui when contacted.
“We cannot write the Thai pair off because they have been on form the last couple of months.
“Even after losing the first game, the Thais did not lose focus and instead handed our pair a tough second game, forcing Kian Meng-Pei Jing into making too many mistakes.”
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: B.Sai Praneeth (Ind) bt Lee Dong Keun (Kor) 21-6, 21-8, K.Srikanth (Ind) bt Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (Ina) 21-13, 21-14; Doubles: Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) bt Gideon Marcus Fernaldi-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Ina) 11-21, 21-11, 21-14, Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (Chn) bt Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto (Ina) 15-21, 21-10, 21-16;
Women’s singles: Carolina Marin (Spa) bt Sung Ji Hyun (Kor) 21-9, 21-12, Tai Tzu Ying (Tai) bt Zhang Beiwen (USA) 21-19, 21-15; Doubles: Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn) bt Jung Kyung Eun-Shin Seung Chan (Kor) 21-17, 21-17, Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christinna Pedersen (Den) bt Chang Ye Na-Lee So Hee (Kor) 28-26, 21-11;
Mixed doubles: Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) bt Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing 18-21, 21-11, 21-14, Lu Kai-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) bt Kim Gi Jung-Shin Seung Chan (Kor) 16-21, 21-17, 21-12