MAYBANK Malaysia Open: V Shem-Khim Wah storm into semis

Goh V Shem (front) and Lim Khim Wah. Pic by Goh Thean Howe

GOH V Shem-Lim Khim Wah continued their outstanding form since renewing their partnership recently by reaching the men's doubles semi-finals in the Maybank Malaysian Open while top seeds Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying followed suit in the mixed doubles yesterday.
Ranked World No 30, V Shem-Khim Wah brushed aside South Korea's World No 53 Kang Ji Wook-Lee Sang Joon 21-14, 21-16 in 30 minutes to make their second Super Series semi-final appearance since last year's India Open.
Today, the unseeded pair will have a chance to avenge their quarter-final defeat to South Korea's Lee Yong Dae-Ko Sung Hyun in last week's Korea Open.
Yong Dae-Sung Hyun, the World No 6, blanked Japan's Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Noriyasu Hirata 21-14, 21-7 in yesterday's quarter-finals.
V Shem-Khim Wah, who were paired with others following a string of poor results in June but reunited earlier this month, will move into the top-20 bracket in next week's rankings for making the semi-finals here.
"We are almost certain of qualifying for the World Championships in August with this result, provided that we maintain our form in the following events," said V Shem yesterday.
"We played well today but we can play better. Yong Dae-Sing Hyun are strong but we will try our best to upset the Koreans to reach our first Super Series finals."
Peng Soon-Liu Ying had wanted a tough match but all they got was an effortless win in 30 minutes over their nervous teammates in the mixed doubles quarter-finals yesterday.
The World No 3 hardly raised sweat in their 21-13, 21-14 win over World No 30 Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing to qualify for a second straight semi-final in the event.
"Aik Quan-Pei Jing gave us too much respect and thus did not play well. If they had played their true game, we would have had a good fight," said Peng Soon yesterday.
"They have talent and spirit but lack experience. They need to play more difficult matches in tournaments to improve."
Pei Jing, in response to their average game, said Peng Soon-Liu Ying were just too strong.
"We knew it would be tough to match them as we are their training partners. Anyway, we did not play good today. But I can see a good future with Aik Quan and maybe we will get better soon," said Pei Jing.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying face Poland's World No 8 and European champions Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Zieba, who thrashed Singapore's Danny Bawa Chrisnanta-Vanessa Neo 21-11, 21-12 yesterday, for a place in the final.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying have not met the Polish pair since beating them twice in the China Masters and the Hong Kong Open in 2011.
"It will be a difficult semi-final as they have improved so much since our last meeting. They are strong and have good smashes... we need to be patient and play our game," he added.
Courtesy of New Straits Times