2012 Vietnam Open: Aik Quan Tan, Pei Jing Lai claim title match spot in Mixed Doubles event
Malaysia’s Mixed Doubles team Aik Quan Tan-Pei Jing Lai registered their class in the semi-final round of Yonex Sunrise Vietnam Open GP and powered their way into finals on August 25, 2012.
They overwhelmed higher ranked pair of Fran Kurniawan-Shendy Puspa Irawati in just 35 minutes and sealed a straight-set victory with concluding figures of 23-21 and 22-20.
Though, this epic tussle concluded in just two games but still both teams kept the audience glued to their chairs with a captivating show of skills.
The victorious duo displayed superior badminton craft and qualified for the title match where they will be up against the twosome of Markis Kido and Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth.
Quan Tan and Pei Jing, who hold sixth spot in the tournament ranking, will be in high spirits as they have proved their mettle through an unbeatable run in previous rounds of this Grand Prix event.
In the second last round, they started their campaign in perfect manner and pushed their rivals on the back-foot with an intensive attack.
They played with authoritative approach and dictated the opposing team all the way to mid-game break. They managed to put a respectable total of 11 in the first half and gained a slight edge in score position.
Twosome of Fran Kurniawan and Puspa Irawati did not lose their nerve after this temporary failure and showed elevated craft in the third quarter of the set.
At first, they narrowed the gap and then mounted pressure by establishing a decent lead. However, their supremacy was short lived as Quan Tan-Pei Jing reinstated their dominance and finished the first set with a tight yet favourable margin of 23-21.
Next game proved a replay of the first set as both teams played with same enthusiasm and put all they had to achieve their respective goals.
None of them could make a notable difference at any stage of the game and the second set remained on a knife edge until the last shot was played.
They were locked in a tough competition at game point situation when the Malaysian campaigners prevailed in ending two rallies and cruised to victory with 22-20 score on the board.
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