KUALA LUMPUR: Five tournaments in as many weeks have yet to slow Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing as the Malaysian mixed doubles pair powered into the Korea Open quarter-finals on Thursday.
The country’s world No. 15 Pang Ron-Pei Jing brushed aside South Korea’s world No. 154 Jin Sung Ik-Lee Seung Hee 21-8, 21-15 at Jinnam Stadium in Yeosu to stay on course for a fourth consecutive semi-final appearance.
Their demanding run began at the Arctic Open before continuing through Denmark, France and Germany, with Korea their fifth successive weekly assignment.
After an opening-round exit in Finland, Pang Ron-Pei Jing reached the Denmark Open semi-finals, finished runners-up at the French Open and made the last four at last week’s Hylo Open.
They have cleared their first two hurdles in Korea without dropping a game, having beaten Thailand’s world No. 76 Tonkid Saeheng-Tonrug Saeheng 21-10, 21-14 yesterday.
Pang Ron-Pei Jing now face China’s world No. 2 and top seeds Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin for a semi-final berth on Friday after the Chinese pair won their second-round match 21-11, 21-18 againt Japan’s Haruki Kawabe-Kokona Ishikawa.
However, fellow Malaysians and world No. 179 Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse could not join them in the last eight.
Tang Jie-Wen Tse fell 21-7, 21-13 to China’s world No. 8 and third seeds Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi in 29 minutes.