Japan Open: Malaysians through to three finals

In the absence of all the top China players, Malaysian shuttlers, led by world No. 2 Lee Chong Wei (pic) stormed into three finals at the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei, playing in his first tournament since the heartbreaking final loss to arch rival Lin Dan in last month’s London Olympics, was back at his fiery best as he easily crushed Indonesian third seed Simon Santoso 21-7, 21-17.
It was his ninth win over Simon in 10 meetings and Chong Wei, who has yet to drop a single game, will be the hot favourite for the title.
The Penangite, who lost to Chen Long in last year’s final, should have no problems against Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana in the final.
Former world No. 4 Boonsak, who has been in good form since recovering from injury earlier this year, stopped the fine run of China Masters finalist Hu Yun of Hong Kong.
He won 21-17, 17-21, 21-19 and will be eyeing his second title of year after winning the Singapore Open in June.
In the men’s doubles, the much criticised pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong appeared to have found a new lease of life, as they blew away team-mates Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong.
The pair recorded a 21-15, 21-17 win and will have a chance to end a long title drought dating back to May last year when they won the Malaysian Open GP Gold.
However, Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who are seeded second in Tokyo, will have much work to do if they are to silence their doubters as they face young Korean pair Kim Ki-jung-Kim Sa-rang in the final.
The seventh seeded Ki-jung-Sa-rang, who beat Kien Keat-Boon Heong in the Malaysian Open this year, were also in great form as they brushed aside local pair Hiroyuki Saeki-Ryota Taohata 21-9, 21-8 in just 24 minutes.
The triple joy was completed by mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying who eased past Japan’s Takeshi Kamura-Koharu Yonemoto 21-19, 21-13.
They will face Muhammad Rijal-Liliyana Natsir in the final after the Indonesian fifth seeds defeated home favourites Shintaro Ikeda-Reiko Shiota 21-9, 21-11.
“They started well but were too cautious in the first game. It was an improved performance though in the second as they opened up the game and anticipated shots better,” said mixed doubles coach Jeremy Gan.
Courtesy of The Star