Top seeds Koo-Tan make it to the semi-finals

ALOR STAR: Top seeds and defending champions Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong marched into the semi-finals of the Proton National Grand Prix Finals after scoring a convincing 21-13, 21-18 victory over Chew Choon Eng-Hong Chien Hun at the Kedah BA Hall here last night.

Needing a victory to avoid elimination, Kien Keat and Boon Heong were in command throughout the match and the win gave them second spot in Group A.

They failed to top the group after losing in three closely contested games to national team-mates Gan Teik Chai-Lin Woon Fui on Wednesday night.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong will take on Group B winners Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in the semi-finals.

The other semi-final match is between Teik Chai-Woon Fui and Group B runners-up Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock.

“The heat inside the hall was unbearable tonight. But luckily we managed to keep our focus together. We knew that nothing less than a win was needed and managed to rise to the occasion,” said Boon Heong.

“It does not matter that we have to play against the in-form Tan Fook-Wan Wah in the semis itself. Our goal is to win every match regardless of the opponents.”

In the men's singles, second seed Tan Chun Seang qualified for his first-ever semi-finals in the national Finals after triumphing 21-16, 18-21, 25-23 over Mohd Arif Latif in the titanic battle to determine the Group B winner.

The Kedahan saved two match points and also wasted three opportunities to seal the match before getting it right in the fourth attempt.

“Due to the immense pressure, both Arif and myself were making errors throughout the match,” said Chun Seang. “The Kedah fans fired me up and I have to thank them for helping me to pull through,” added Chun Seang, who will play Yeoh Kay Bin today for a place in the final.

The other semi-final is between Lee Chong Wei and Mohd Roslin Hashim.

Rising star Tee Jing Yi produced a giant-killing act in the women's singles by knocking out second seed and former national champion Anita Raj Kaur.

Anita, who had already lost to Stephanie Shalini on Wednesday, found the going too tough against the Bukit Jalil Sports School student and was beaten 14-21, 23-21, 15-21.

The 17-year-old Jing Yi, who won all her three Group B matches, will play against Vivian Hoo in the semi-finals.

The other semi-final is between Stephanie and top seed Julia Wong.

All Englang Winner need to do much more than just winning a local, we dont want local champion