KUALA LUMPUR: Independent shuttler Lee Jan Jireh pulled off a major upset to set up an all-Malaysian men’s singles final at the Malaysia International Challenge in Ipoh on Saturday.
The world No. 354, who was dropped from the national team in October, stunned India’s eighth seed Mithun Manjunath, ranked 130th, 18-16, 15-3 at the Perak Badminton Arena.
Jan Jireh’s triumph earned him a showdown with compatriot Eogene Ewe in Sunday’s title decider.
World No. 80 Eogene booked his place in the final after edging compatriot and world No. 182 Chua Kim Sheng 15-10, 11-15, 15-5. Eogene holds a 2-0 head-to-head record over Jan Jireh.
This will be Eogene’s second final of the year, after he lifted the Slovenia Open crown in May.
Malaysia will also be represented in the mixed doubles final, after Tan Zhi Yang-Nicole Tan shocked compatriots and world No. 493 Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah-Dania Sofea Zaidi 15-12, 10-15, 16-14 in a 52-minute thriller.
The world No. 359 Malaysians will face Indonesia’s world No. 789 Kenzie Yoe-Luna Saffana, who advanced after Low Han Chen-Vannee Gobi retired.
In the men’s doubles, Faiq Haziq Masawi-Lok Hong Quan prevailed in an all-Malaysian battle against Beh Chun Men-Choi Jian Sheng. World No. 118 Faiq-Hong Quan overcame world No. 212 Chun Men-Jian Sheng 15-9, 15-11.
They will take on Japan’s world No. 84 Keiichiro Matsui-Katsuki Tamate in the final.
The Japanese pair defeated Malaysia’s Nurfirdaus Azman-Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar 17-15, 15-8.
However, there was disappointment in the women’s doubles as Chong Jie Yu-Vanessa Ng bowed out in the semi-finals, falling 10-15, 15-8, 15-8 to South Korea‘s Jeon Jui-Kim Ha Na.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
