KUALA LUMPUR: National back-up pair Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe staged a remarkable comeback to overcome Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, and save the national team from a total wipeout at the Malaysia International Series in Ipoh today.
Trailing 11-4 in the rubber game in the quarter-final, it seemed to be all over for Chun Meng-Boon Zhe but they rose to the occasion to turn the tables on the Thais and prevailed 21-14, 14-21, 21-19.
The under-pressure Malaysian duo held their nerves well despite being the last national shuttlers standing after all their teammates were eliminated earlier in the day.
Professional pair Leong Jun Kai-Jimmy Wong made it an all-Malaysian semi-final after outlasting Taiwan's Chen Cheng Kuan-Chen Sheng Fa 21-17, 20-22, 21-19.
The onus is now on one of the pairs to prevent the hosts from suffering their worst-ever performance in the tournament since its inception 2017.
There were at least two winners in each of the first three editions leading to 2019. The meet was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19.
BAM have been handed a reality check that they can't afford to just ride on the success of their top players such as Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah who were crowned the world champions and French Open winners recently.
The failure of the other national back-up shuttlers to shine on home soil is certainly not a good sign.
Among the biggest letdowns were Haikal Nazri-Wan Arif Junaidi and Chia Wei Jie-Low Hang Yee, the second and fourth seeds in men's doubles.
Haikal-Arif were outclassed 21-10, 21-6 by China's Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi while Wei Jie-Hang Yee lost 21-11, 21-12 to Juan Elgiffani-Nendi Novatino of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the brilliant run of the 17-year-old Eogene Ewe was ended by China's Lei Lan Xi who triumphed 21-16, 21-12.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Men's singles: Bobby Setiabudi (Ina) bt Chang Shih Chieh (Tpe) 22-20, 21-18; Lei Lan Xi (Chn) bt Eogene Ewe (Mas) 21-16, 21-12; Syabda Perkasa Belawa (Ina) bt Yohanes Saut Marcellyno (Ina) 21-14, 16-21, 21-14; Liu Liang (Chn) bt Lim Chi Wing (Mas) 21-17, 21-15;
Women's singles: Chen Lu (Chn) bt Chiang Ying Li (Tpe) 21-15, 18-21, 21-11; Chiu Pin Chian (Tpe) bt Aisyah Sativa Fatetani (Ina) 21-16, 21-18, Gao Fang Jie (Chn) bt Chen Su Yu (Tpe) 21-18, 21-13; Stephani Widjaja (Ina) bt Saifi Rizka Nurhidayah (Ina) 21-11, 18-21, 21-16;
Men's doubles: Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe (Mas) bt Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (Tha) 21-14, 14-19, 21-19; Leong Jun Kai-Jimmy Wong (Mas) bt Chen Cheng Kuan-Chen Sheng Fa (Tpe) 21-17, 20-22, 21-19; Juan Elgiffani-Nendi Novatino (Ina) bt Chia Wei Jie-Low Hang Yee (Mas) 21-11, 21-12; Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi (Chn) bt Wan Arif Junaidi-Haikal Nazri (Mas) 21-10, 21-6;
Women's doubles: Laksika Kanlaha-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) bt Chung Kan Yu-Hung En Tzu (Tpe) 21-11, 21-11; Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning (Chn) bt Ng Qi Xuan-Teoh Le Xuan (Mas) 21-10, 21-10; Cheng Yu Pei-Sun Wen Pei (Tpe) bt Chiang Ying Li-Lin Ying Chun (Tpe) 16-21, 21-15, 21-13; Li Yi Jing-Luo Xu Min (Chn) bt Fitriani-Fitriani Jesica Moeljati (Ina) 21-8, 21-7;
Mixed doubles: Cheng Xing-Chen Fang Hui (Chn) bt Chen Sheng Fa-Sun Wen Pei (Tpe) 21-19, 21-16; Lu Ming Che-Chung Kan Yu (Tpe) bt Ng Eng Cheong-Teoh Le Xuan (Mas) 14-21, 24-22, 21-12; Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) bt Lin Yong Sheng-Kuo Yu Wen (Tpe) 21-14, 21-14, Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin (Chn) bt Loo Bing Kun-Yap Cheng Wen (Mas) 21-9, 21-17.