India Open: Tang Jie-Yen Wei into mixed doubles final to face Singapore newlyweds

Malaysian mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei put on a virtuoso performance to power into the India Open final after they ousted top seeds and fellow compatriots Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing 21-19, 21-23, 21-14 on Saturday.

The pair next meet Singapore’s in-form newlywed couple Hee Yong Kai Terry-Tan Wei Han in the final.

Chen-Peck were thoroughly deserving of their place in their first major final after dominating their more senior opponents for most parts of the 71-minute contest.

Malaysian derby ?? as third seeds Chen/Peck take the first game over top seeds Tan/Lai.Follow live action: https://t.co/TjoFnU4PnB @HSBC_Sport #BWFWorldTour #IndiaOpen2022 pic.twitter.com/wQVF6L1OCy
— BWF (@bwfmedia) January 15, 2022

Chen, who was the architect of most of the pair’s offensive play, said they would seek advice from mixed doubles specialist Chan Peng Soon.

“We will have a discussion with our ‘big bro’ Peng Soon on the final. He has so much of experience and can offer us some advice, along with our coach,” Chen said.

The world number 40 pair are the country’s sole representatives in the final after Ng Tze Yong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi both lost their semi-final affairs.

Ng once again battled to three games, but this time did not prevail after he surrendered 21-19, 16-21, 12-21 to India’s promising youngster Lakshya Sen.

Ng was formidable to take a closely-fought first game, and looked comfortable in the opening stages of the second game.

But fatigue began to creep in and Sen took advantage by upping the tempo and found many winners through his cross-court smashes.

The Indian faces world champion Loh Kean Yew in the final, after the Singaporean gained a walkover victory over Canada’s Brian Yang.

Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also crashed out after losing in straight games 15-21, 18-21 to in-form top seeds Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan.

Ahsan-Hendra, who won all their matches in straight games, take on either Fabien Delrue-William Villeger or Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in the final.

Meanwhile, earlier the Badminton World Federation announced that one player tested positive for Covid-19 and withdrew from the tournament.

The shuttler's doubles partner was identified as a close contact and was also withdrawn.