KUALA LUMPUR: Professional shuttler Cheam June Wei handed Commonwealth Games silver medallist Ng Tze Yong a reality check, coming out tops in their first official battle to reach the semi-finals of the Indonesia Masters Super 100 today.
June Wei, 25, fought back from 17-14 down in the rubber game to prevail 16-21, 21-13, 21-19 in 64 minutes.
The win over Tze Yong, BAM's No. 1 and national No. 2 to professional Lee Zii Jia, helped June Wei prove a point and showed that he's still one of the best men's singles shuttlers in the country.
"Jun Wei read Tze Yong's game very well today," said June Wei's coach Nova Armada.
"Frankly, it is really not easy to beat Tze Yong. He is a great player."
June Wei has now made it to his second semi-final in three outings, having reached the same stage at the Vietnam Open Super 100 three weeks ago.
The world No. 65 hopes to go one better and reach his first World Tour final since coming in runner-up at the 2018 Dutch Open when he faces Taiwan's Lee Chia Hao in the semi-finals tomorrow.
"This is definitely June Wei's best run as a professional. I can see that he's very delighted to carry the momentum from Vietnam and put together a string of good results this week," said Nova.
"This is crucial for his confidence. It's going to do him a whole world of good as he is working hard to try to break into the top 32 before the start of the Paris Olympics qualifying next year.
"As a coach, I am pleased with his progress. At 25, he still has many good years ahead of him, and it's my job to help him realise his mission."
For Tze Yong, the tournament's top seed, the quarter-final exit is seen as a blow as he was expected to advance at least to the final.
In the women's singles, S. Kisona's gallant run came to an end after she went down tamely 21-4, 21-10 to Gao Fang Jie of China in 28 minutes.
It is still a creditable display for Kisona, whose career was curtailed by a series of injuries.
Kisona had also reached the last eight of the Vietnam Open.