Badminton

Letshanaa closes in on Indonesia Masters II Super 100 title

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 63 K. Letshanaa earned another shot at winning her first title of the season by advancing to the women's singles semi-finals of the Indonesia Masters II Super 100 today (Nov 1).

The 21-year-old, who was also a semi-finalist in last week's Indonesia International Challenge, progressed after her Indonesian opponent Chiara Marvela Handoyo retired due to injury in the deciding game when Letshanaa was leading 14-9.

Letshanaa dominated the opening game 21-10, before Chiara levelled the match by winning the second 21-15.

Letshanaa will face world No. 53 Liang Ting Yu of Taiwan on Saturday, aiming to take a step closer to a title, since she last won the Uganda International last year.

Regardless of the outcome, this last-four appearance is already Letshanaa's best performance on the World Tour, having never previously progressed beyond the quarter-finals.

In the men's singles contest, Ali Sholeh Ali Sadikin also brought joy when he dispatched Vietnam's Nguyen Hai Dang 21-8, 21-8.

This victory set up a semi-final clash against Indonesia's Yohanes Saut Marcellyno, with Ali hoping to reach his first final since winning the Indonesia International Challenge last year.

However, Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar's gallant run came to an end when he was beaten 21-12, 21-11 by Indonesia's Prahdiska Bagas Shujiwo.

In the men's doubles contest, two seasoned professional pairs – Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong and Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong – advanced.

Azriyn-Wee Kiong outplayed Indonesia's Muhammad Al Farizi-Nikolaus Joaquin 21-19, 21-15, while Hang Yee-Eng Cheong fought hard to beat Taiwan's Chiang Chien Wei-Wei Chun Wei 18-21, 21-15, 23-21.

Azriyn-Wee Kiong will face Indonesia's Rahmat Hidayat-Yeremia Rambitan, while Hang Yee-Eng Cheong will take on home pair Raymond Indra-Patra Harapan Rindorindo.

Raymond-Patra prevented an all-Malaysian semi-final by defeating Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Fazriq Razif.

Malaysia will not have any representatives in the women's doubles and mixed doubles following the elimination of Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting, Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien and Liew Xun-Go Pei Kee.

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