KUALA LUMPUR – World number three Li Shifeng was another giant who was slayed in the Malaysia Open today after losing to Lin Chun-yi of Chinese Taipei in the quarter-finals at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Chun-yi beat Shifeng 21-12, 21-18 in straight sets.
Speaking to the media, Chun-yi said that his pace was the key factor in today’s win.
“I’m happy with my performance. Shifeng wanted to play a fast game today, but I was faster. I was able to manage the drift in the arena; I just kept playing each match as they came,” he said.
The 24-year-old also believes playing in the Axiata Arena brings him good luck.
“I also played well here last year too; I think this arena is lucky for me. The conditions were a little different from yesterday, but I was able to manage them,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles, An Se-young of South Korea almost fell at the hands of world number 22 Yeo Jia Min of Singapore.
The world number one had to mount a comeback after losing the first set.
She was able to find her groove in the second and third sets, winning 16-21, 21-12, 21-19.
“I could not get used to the drift in the first set, but slowly I adapted to the conditions in the remaining sets. All the players in the quarter-finals are formidable opponents, so I just focused on myself,” she said. – January 12, 2024