Koo/Tan Only Malaysians To Make Quarter-Final Of Korean Open

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Koo Kien Kiat and Tan Boon Heong were Malaysia's representatives to the quarter-finals of the Korean Open at the Olympic Gymnasium 2, Seoul, South Korea, Thursday. Koo/Tan put up a superb performance to upset fifth seed Chai Biao/Hong Wei of China, 21-14 and 21-12 in the second round of the men's doubles. The pair are set to meet fourth seed Zhang Nan/Fu Haifeng of China in the quarter-finals on Friday. For the record, Koo/Tan have won two titles, the Sri Lanka International Challenge in June and the Russian International Challenge in July. Koo/Tan, the former men's doubles world number one, were 2010 World Championship runner-up. Zhang/Fu, the runners-up in the Japan Open last week, had to work hard to beat Choi Sol Gyu/Kim Jae Hwan of South Korea; 21-18, 17-21 and 21-12 in a second round match. Meanwhile, Malaysia's top men's pair of Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong failed to make the quarter-final after losing 19-21, 19-21 to second seed Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia. Malaysia did not send a representative in the singles and the women's doubles. The tournament offers total prize of US$600,000 (RM2.539 million). --BERNAMA