Only Two Pairs Move Into Semifinals Of Thailand Masters

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Only two of four Malaysian pairs managed to advance to the semifinals of the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters Badminton Championships held at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The country's top women's doubles pair, Vivian Hoo Kah Mun/Woon Khe Wei, seeded fourth, however, received stiff resistance from Thailand's Puttita Supajirakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai before emerging with a hard-fought 22-20, 11-21 and 21-9 win in the quarterfinals Thursday, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website; www.bwfbadminton.org. World number 13th ranked mixed doubles pair, Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying who are seeded seventh, also moved on after sweeping aside another pair from the host country, Puavaranukroh Dechapol/Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-15, 21-16. Malaysia's campaign in the men's doubles event, however, fizzled out after two pairs -- Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong and Koo Kien Kiat/Tan Boon Heong -- lost to their respective opponents. Goh/Tan who are currently the country's top pair put up a spirited fight against top seeds Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan from Indonesia before going down 21-19, 16-21, 13-21. Koo/Tan who emerged as runner-up in 2010 World Championships, bowed out in straight sets 10-21, 12-21 to second seeds Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang of South Korea. The country's challenge in the men's singles had already fizzled out on Wednesday after Zulfadli Zulkiffli and Tan Chung Seang were shown the exit by their respective opponents. Malaysia did not send any representative in the women's singles of the Grand Prix Gold tournament which offers US$120,000 (RM498,267) as prize money. -- BERNAMA