KUALA LUMPUR: Top Malaysian pairs, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, who have been displaying unbelievable consistency on the World Tour in recent months, seemed to have run out of steam at the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta yesterday.
World No. 3 Tang Jie-Ee Wei had reached four consecutive semi-finals and it was thought that a fifth was beckoning them at the Istora Senayan.
However, in-form new Thai combination Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran came from behind to beat the top-seeded Malaysians 18-21, 22-20, 21-18 in the last eight in 71 minutes.
Independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, the world No. 4 and second seeds, also looked like a spent force as they fell to a tame 21-15, 21-9 defeat in just 30 minutes to world No. 12 Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito of Japan.
Tang Jie said he felt uncomfortable on his leg after executing a smash just before the interval during the third game while leading 11-7.
However, Tang Jie wasn't allowed to use the cold spray as the tournament doctor deemed it as time-wasting.
Unperturbed, Tang Jie-Ee Wei fought on and led 18-16 before a sudden surge from Dechapol-Supissara saw them securing five points in a row to end the contest at 21-18.
The Thai pair, who won the Malaysia Open two weeks ago, pulled off a similar act in the second game, racing from 20-19 down to force the decider with a 22-20 win.
Tang Jie didn't blame the discomfort on his leg but felt that luck deserted them at crucial points.
"We were not worried in the second game but luck possibly deserted us," said Tang Jie.
"In the third game, I felt discomfort on my leg after I landed after smashing.
"So, I wanted to use the spray but was not allowed as I was deemed to be delaying the match. I just needed some relief by applying the spray but it wasn't allowed. I had no intention of wasting time."
Ee Wei, who was irked after Tang Jie wasn't allowed to use the spray, said: ""This is our third competition in as many weeks but we fought for every point.
"We lost out to them at crucial points and while we were leading 11-7 in the third game, we gave away easy points. We have to learn from those mistakes."
Soon Huat-Shevon were unable to continue their fine run after reaching three consecutive semi-finals at the World Tour Finals, Malaysia and India Opens.
The husband-and-wife pair aim to make a strong return at the All England in March.
It turned out to be a bad day for Malaysia in the mixed doubles as Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin also crashed out in the last eight.
World No. 19 Pang Ron-Su Yin were edged 21-23, 21-19, 21-19 by new Indonesian pair Rinov Rivaldi-Lisa Ayu Kusumawati in 63 minutes.
After the mixed doubles setbacks, women's pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah brought back the smiles to the Malaysian camp by beating Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto 21-16, 21-15 to march into the semi-finals,
The world No. 7 proved that their victory over Malaysia Open champions Yuki-Mayu in the India Open last week was no fluke.
Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun ensured Malaysia a spot in the men's doubles semi-finals by beating compatriots Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King 21-15, 21-16 in 32 minutes.