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Malaysia set to take all men’s singles semi spots

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are one step away from taking all four places in the semi-finals of the Malaysia International Challenge men’s singles competition at the Likas Sports Complex in Kota Kinabalu.

Yesterday, four players won their third-round matches. And only Kuan Beng Hong breezed into the last eight, taking 35 minutes to beat Indonesia’s Bandar Sigit Pamungkas 21-17, 21-11 to set up a match against South Korean Shon Wan-ho.

Three others — Tan Chun Seang, Chong Wei Feng and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif — had to go to the distance to advance to matches against Andreas Adityawarman of Indonesia, South Koreans Park Wan-ho and Rho Ye-wook respectively.

It will be a first for Malaysia if all four make it to the semi-finals and much will depend on whether Chun Seang could pull it off.

Team manager How Kim Tho said that Andreas, who beat three Malaysians (Kuan Kam Chung, Loo Yik Xiang and Chong Li Qun) to get into the quarter-finals would be the main threat.

“Youngster Andreas is the most experienced of all the opponents our players have to play against in the quarter-finals. He has played in more international tournaments,” said Kim Tho from Kota Kinabalu.

“But Chun Seang is very determined to prove himself here. I am confident that he can pull it off. It will be great to have an all-Malaysian semi-finals.”

In the women’s singles, Malaysia are assured of a place in the semi-finals with Sannatasah Saniru taking on Vivian Hoo today.

World junior doubles champions Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang stayed on track for their first senior international title when they checked into the quarter-finals with a convincing 21-12, 21-16 win over Chen Chung-jen-Huang Po-yi of Taiwan.

They will take on Nuttaphon Nar­kt­hong-Patiphat Chalardchalaem of Thailand for a place in the semi-finals.

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