Pearly-Thinaah, Wei Chong-Kai Wun through to Indonesia Open semis

 The women and men’s doubles pairs defeat their rivals from Japan and India in straight games.

Women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah won the first game against Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi easily, but were made to sweat in the second. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah cruised into the semi-finals of the Indonesia Open after a convincing win over Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi in straight games in Jakarta today.

The Malaysian world No 4 pair won the first game easily but had to work hard in the second  before defeating the fifth ranked Japanese duo 21-6, 21-18 in 36 minutes at Istora Senayan.

It was their fourth win over the Japanese duo in six encounters.

Pearly-Thinaah will meet the winners of the match between Japan’s Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto and Chinese pair Li Yi Jing-Luo Xi Min for a place in the final.

Men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun also booked their place in the semi-finals after defeating India’s top pair in straight games.

The world No 7 pair, who won the Malaysia Masters last month, defeated Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy 21-19, 21-16 in a match lasting 43 minutes.

They will face either compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani or Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Reza Pahlevi Isfahani from Indonesia next.

It was Wei Chong-Kai Wun’s first win over the 22nd ranked Indian pair in their five encounters, and their third semi-final appearance this season.

They hope to repeat their performance at the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta in January, when they clinched the title. They also won the Malaysia Masters last month after defeating compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the final. - FMT