Korea Open GP Gold: Arif strolls, Sonia shines

ARIF Latif checked into the men's singles semi-finals of the Korea Open grand prix gold in Jeonnam while Sonia Cheah impressed in the women's singles yesterday.
Arif defeated unheralded South Korean Yim Jong Woo 21-16, 21-16 in the quarter-finals to keep alive his hopes of securing a first international title.
He will meet South Korean back-up player Lee Dong Keun, who beat Riyanto Subagja of Indonesia 21-18, 21-11, in the last four today.
Sonia also achieved her best result in a grand prix tournament, beating Miki Takagi of Japan 21-10, 21-18, and will take on second seed Aprilla Yuswandari of Indonesia today.
In the men's doubles, scratch pair Goh V Shem-Ong Jian Guo reached the semi-finals, beating Lin Yen Jui-Lu Chia Bin of Taiwan 16-21, 21-13, 21-16.
V Shem has resumed his partnership with Jian Guo (they played together during junior days and in the back-up squad) after a fallout with Lim Khim Wah.
However, V Shem will combine with Khim Wh again as the duo are said to have settled their differences and should make a return in the Korea and Malaysia Opens next month.
V Shem-Jian Guo face an uphill task in the last four as they will take on favourites Ko Sung Hyun-Lee Yong Dae of South Korea.
Back-up pair Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming bowed out in the last eight when they lost 21-13, 21-18 to top seeds Kim Ki Jung-Kim Sa Rang of South Korea.
Courtesy of New Straits Times