Image taken from The Star
Malaysia's women's doubles pair Vivian Hoo-Yap Cneh Wen will remember Macau China for the rest of their lives with a historic win in the USD150,000 Macau Open on Sunday.
The 75th ranked Malaysians stole the show with their giant-killing feats before nailing the title with a 21-15, 22-20 win over world No 30 Misato Aratama-Akane Watanabe in a 40-minute thriller.
The victory was worth USD11,850 and it was their biggest pay cheque in their career after being paired in September last year. The losers took home USD5,700.
With the morale-boosting win in Macau China, Vivian Hoo-Cheng Wen pair now counts on hopes to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Olympic qualifying rounds begin next year.
In the semi-finals played on Saturday, the Malaysians nailed fourth seeds Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida also of Japan – winning 21-16, 21-16. Earlier in the quarter-finals, they ousted Hong Kong China's Ng Tsz Yau-Yuen Sin Ying 21-11, 21-13.
The women's doubles title was Malaysia's first ever in the tournament since it was incepted in 2006. Malaysia, however, has won the men's singles through Lee Chong Wei in 2009 and 2020, the men's doubles through Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (2007, 2008) and Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong in 2013.
In the men's singles final Korea's veteran Lee Hyun Il, seeded third was too strong for China's rookie youngsters Zhou Zeqi with a 21-9, 21-19 win for the title while Canada's Michelle Li, the top seed, lived up to her billing with a hard-fought 23-25, 21-17, 21-15 triumph over fifth-seeded China's Han Yue which lasted 75 minutes.
The TAP SEAC Multisport Pavilion also witnessed all-Korea final in the men's doubles and all-Hong Kong China final in the mixed doubles.
Kim Gi-jung-Lee Yong-dae battled to a 17-21, 21-13, 21-19 win over compatriots Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol in a 69-minute match.
In the mixed doubles, top seeds Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Yuet outclassed compatriots and second seeds Reginald Lee Chun hei-Chau Hoi Wah 21-14, 21-15 for the title.
RESULTS (All Finals)
Mixed doubles
Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (HKG) beat Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Chau Hoi Wah (HKG) 21-14, 21-15
Women's singles
Michelle Li (CAN) beat Han Yue (CHN) 23-25, 21-17, 21-15
Men's singles
Lee Hun-il (KOR) beat Zhou Yeqi (CHN) 21-9, 21-19
Women's doubles
Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen (MAS) beat Misato Aratama-Akane Watanabe (JPN) 21-15, 22-20
Men's doubles
Kim Gi-jung-lee Yong-dae (KOR) beat Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol (KOR) 17-21, 21-13, 21-19
