MALAYSIA OPEN 2014 R16 – The rise of new faces

Malaysia’s Chan/Goh’s desperate wish to hold on did not turn out well as they lost their match to Indonesia’s three-week-old pair Praveen Jordan / Debby Susanto. Meanwhile, Thailand’s third strongest lady Nichaon Jindapon got the better of Korea’s top lady Sung Ji Hyun, while Boonsak Ponsana surrendered to fatigue and gave in to Kento Momota in two straight games.

By Ooi Ee Lyn, Badzine Correspondent live in Kuala Lumpur. Photos: Yves Lacroix for Badmintonphoto (live)

Unlike in the second round of the Malaysia Open last year where Chan Peng Soon / Goh Liu Ying (pictured) survived the twist of events to advance into the quarter-finals, they became the victims of the overturn of fate today. The beneficiaries were Indonesia’s Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto (pictured) who are now playing in their first tournament together.

Goh Liu Ying took up the match today in the same outfit she sported last year, but unfortunately her then lucky charm did not bring her and Chan the good news they hoped for.

Chan said, “We should have won this match. It’s quite a pity. Perhaps it’s our luck too, as we caught back up from 0-8 down, but did not manage to control the game. I think we were too desperate for the victory, and our performance became inconsistent instead.”

Jordan and Susanto, who reportedly only started training together three weeks ago, now look forward to upsetting third seeds Joachim Fischer Nielsen / Christinna Pedersen, who thankfully did not yield their match to Kang Ji Wook / Ko A Ra’s threatening play.

Unexpected events for Thailand

The Thais would have expected Boonsak Ponsana to advance into the quarter-finals, but while the Thai veteran did not, their hopeful newcomer Nichaon Jindapon (pictured below) turned the tables against Sung Ji Hyun to sweep the world #5 off.

Boonsak Ponsana lost to Japan’s rising star, 2012 World Junior Champion Kento Momota (pictured) in the same round at which he withdrew from the tournament last year. Momota ousted Viktor Axelsen on Wednesday, and has now taken care of Boonsak, but he was not exactly happy with what he has achieved.

“I think both of my victories were because of luck,” said Momota.  “I wouldn’t say I’m very happy about it, because I did not win the matches by my skills. It was mere luck and mistakes from my opponents. I had no pressure today, and was able to attack continuously. Boonsak seemed like he was just there waiting for my shots.”

The 31-year-old Thai gave in to fatigue as he said he has not recovered from the three tiring games against Gao Huan yesterday. Meanwhile, Momota hopes to take on third seeded Jan O Jorgensen on Friday not with luck but by skills, while Nichaon Jindapon aims to upset Wang Shixian and take the run a step further, to her first Superseries semi-final.

For the sake of local spectators, Lee Chong Wei and Goh V Shem / Lim Khim Wah successfully made it into the quarter-finals after beating Wang Zhengming and Maneepong Jongjit / Nipitphon Puangpuapech respectively, while the four other Malaysian competitors ended their journey at the Superseries Premier event at home.

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