MALAYSIA OPEN 2015 QF – Mission Impossible: Facing the Chinese Wall

Jan Jorgensen, Ahmad/Natsir, and Jang/Jung each have the burden of fighting for the Maybank Malaysian title amid three imposing semi-finalists from China.

By Mior Muzaffar Mior Dahalan, Badzine Correspondent live in Kuala Lumpur.  Photos: Yves Lacroix for Badmintonphoto (live)

The lone survivor in the men’s singles event from Denmark, indeed from the rest of the world, is world #2 Jan Jorgensen (pictured).  The Dane made it look easy in beating Wei Nan from Hong Kong in his quarter-final match-up, winning 21-9, 21-15 in just 29 minutes.

His reward for getting into the semi-final tomorrow is to meet two-time Olympic gold medallist from China, Lin Dan.  Jorgensen may be able to approach such a match with less trepidation than some, as he has the enviable distinction of having won two of his last three matches against the Chinese legend.

Jorgensen’s message to the Malaysian fans was quick and short: “I need the Malaysian fans to support me tomorrow against Lin Dan.  He always breaks the Malaysian fans’ dreams by beating Lee Chong Wei when they were playing against each other.  So, I’m expecting them to support me.”

Next on the agenda was the match between Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir (pictured) against Chris and Gabrielle Adcock.  And it was the Indonesians who made it through to the semi-final of the mixed doubles event by getting the better of the English pair in three games.

It was a topsy-turvy match where the Indonesians won comfortably in the first and third game, but they were poor in the second game.  By winning this, the Indonesian pair now will meet the former no.1 mixed doubles pair from China, Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei (pictured below).

“We just lost our focus in the second game and once we knew about it, it was just too late and they were becoming more confident in their play,” Liliyana Natsir explained afterward.  “Luckily we managed to regain our focus in the third game and won.

“For the next match against Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, we have an even record against them, so I think we have a chance and we will try to enjoy the game as well tomorrow,” added Liliyana with a smile.

Tantowi was asked to rate their opponents of tomorrow, and answered, “They play great badminton and we have to be wary about their play.  I think their main strength is their ability to play under pressure.  They seem to handle themselves well during tight matches and stay focussed.”

Both Jorgensen and Ahmad/Natsir are fighting to face another Chinese opponent in the final as the other semi-final in each event is an all-Chinese affair.  Women’s doubles is following the same pattern, but with fewer familiar combinations.

China’s Luo twins are the highest-seeded semi-finalists and will be taking on compatriots Ou/Yu.  Meanwhile, Xia Huan and Tian Qing, in their first tournament, will be facing Korea’s Jang Ye Na / Jung Kyung Eun (pictured below), who are playing in their second tournament as a pair.

Click here for complete quarter-final results