KUALA LUMPUR: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were the only Malaysian pair to reach the Korea Open semi-finals on Friday following quarter-final defeats for Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi and Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing.
The world No. 9 overcame Japan’s world No. 57 Haruki Kawabe-Kenta Matsukawa 21-14, 26-24 in the quarter-finals at the Jinnam Stadium.
But the country’s remaining title contenders now face the daunting task of breaking their jinx against South Korea’s world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae.
The Koreans booked their semi-final place after battling past China’s scratch pairing of Wang Chang-Xie Hao Nan 21-14, 15-21, 21-19.
A meeting with Won Ho-Seung Jae will give Wei Chong-Kai Wun another chance to turn the tables on opponents who have repeatedly frustrated them.
The world No. 1 pair are undefeated in six meetings against Wei Chong-Kai Wun.
Upstaging the Koreans at their home ground would also provide a significant boost as Wei Chong-Kai Wun seek to build on their recent French Open title success.
However, world No. 39 Chia Wei Jie- Teo Ee Yi could not follow their compatriots through, losing 21-17, 21-18 to Japan’s world No. 14 Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.
Malaysia also lost their remaining mixed doubles representatives when world No. 15 Pang Ron-Pei Jing fell to China’s world No. 2 Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin.
Pang Ron-Pei Jing lost 21-14, 21-18 to end their campaign in the last eight.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun must now overcome Won Ho-Seung Jae to keep Malaysia represented on the final day.