Latest news with #HongKongOpen
The Star
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Star
Pearly-Thinaah need to find a formula quickly to unsettle China's world No. 1 pair
PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah need to find a way to overcome China's world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning fast. Shengshu-Tan Ning ended Pearly-Thinaah's hopes of becoming the first Malaysians to win the women's doubles title in the Japan Open after beating them 21-15, 21-14 in the final at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Sunday (July 20). The world No. 3 pair have been in fine form this year but found the formidable Chinese duo hard to break down and lost in 45 minutes. It was Shengshu-Tan Ning's second consecutive win over Pearly-Thinaah in a final after they also denied the latter in the Indonesian Open title match in Jakarta last month. Last year, Pearly-Thinaah also faced their nemeses twice in finals and managed to win once in the Hong Kong Open but lost in the Arctic Open. Overall, Shengshu and Tan Ning, who are only 21 and 22, respectively, now lead Pearly-Thinaah 9-3 in their head-to-head record. On their latest defeat to the Chinese pair, Pearly told the Badminton World Federation (BWF): "For today's match, our game plan didn't work. They read our game quite well. "We couldn't overcome this, and we need to learn from this match." Thinaah said: "The most important thing for us is to be confident in ourselves no matter what the scores are in the match. The main thing is to be confident in what shots you want to play. "Our confidence was affected a bit today. Our opponents put us under a lot of pressure and it wasn't the game we wanted to play." With the China Open starting on Tuesday (July 22) in Changzhou and the World Championships coming up on Aug 25-31 in Paris, Pearly-Thinaah could face Shengshu-Tan Ning again and need to find a formula quickly to beat the pair. In the China tournament, the Malaysians could take on Shengshu-Tan Ning if both pairs make it into the final again. Pearly-Thinaah have vowed not to let the loss in Japan affect them too much as they look to maintain their encouraging form in China. The pair have reached four finals this year, capturing the Thailand Open and finishing runners-up in the Indonesian Masters to go with their achievements in the Indonesian and Japan Opens. "Recently, we have been playing quite well. So, I hope this match won't affect us in the future," said Pearly. "The good thing is we keep communicating and supporting each other, whether we win or lose. "We hope to keep this momentum for our next matches. We will refocus and prepare well for next week."
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
City's top pickleball player Jack Wong aims for triple crown at Hong Kong Open next month
Hong Kong's top pickleball player, Jack Wong Hong-kit, has voiced his ambitions for next month's Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour Asia's Hong Kong Open loud and clear. Wong, who was formerly a Hong Kong tennis player, said on Tuesday he would be chasing a triple crown – men's singles and doubles, and the mixed doubles – when he makes his home debut. 'I am aiming for a gold medal in all three events,' the 26-year-old said. 'When I first heard the tournament was coming to Hong Kong, I was actually quite excited. 'It's the first time a bigger tournament is being played here, but I'm not thinking about whether it will motivate me more or give me extra pressure – it's all about playing my best game in a change of environment, wherever we play.' Hongkonger Wong will partner Kim Eunggwon of South Korea in the men's doubles and has picked younger sister and tennis player Cody Wong Hong-yi – currently ranked No 367 in the world – as his mixed-doubles partner. China's Long Yufei won the women's singles event at the inaugural tournament in Malaysia. Photo: Jonathan Wong 'I expect to play in all PPA Tour Asia events this year,' he said. 'It's going to bring some of the best players, including from the United States, to the region so it is going to be competitive.
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rising star Qurratu'Ain shines in Hong Kong
Qurratu'Ain posing after finishing third in the Hong Kong Open. PETALING JAYA: Qurratu'Ain Idzhar (pic) may be a newcomer to the national youth bowling team, but the 17-year-old is already making a name for herself on the international stage. In just her fourth international appearance this year, Qurratu'Ain finished an impressive third at the Hong Kong Open yesterday, emerging as Malaysia's top woman performer at the Kai Tak Sports Park. Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Full access to Web and App. RM 13.90/month RM 9.73 /month Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter. RM 12.39/month RM 8.63 /month Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
China test in Tokyo
Time to shine: Toh Ee Wei-Chen Tang Jie aiming to keep Malaysian flag flying high in Tokyo. PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei need a big win to restore confidence as the country's top pair. And they will get a chance to do it in the Japan Open starting tomorrow in Tokyo as the are likely to take on All-England champions Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui of China as early as the second round. Tang Jie-Ee Wei have beaten Xinwa-Fanghui in their past meetings in the China Masters and Hong Kong Open last year but the former had showed marked improvement en route to stunning teammates Feng Yanzhe-Wei Yaxin to capture the biggest title in their careers so far in the All-England in Birmingham in March. Doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky believes that a good showing in Japan will boost the pair's confidence. 'Tang Jie-Ee Wei's preparations have been good and they are ready for this tournament,' said Rexy. 'They could face the All-England champions in the second round and this will be a tough challenge for them but if they can overcome this pair, it will give them a confidence boost.' The world No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei should have no problems getting past Canada's scratch pair Kevin Lee-Josephine Wu in the first round while Xinwa-Fanghui are also the favourites in their opening match against Indonesia's world No. 14 Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu. Tang Jie-Ee Wei are still searching for their best form and have not reached any finals so far this year. Their best results together this year were semi-final finishes in the Opens in Malaysia, India and Indonesia. Tang Jie-Ee Wei split up at the end of March due to a strained relationship before resolving their differences and reuniting quickly. The other Malaysian mixed doubles pair in the fray are world No. 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, world No. 13 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin and world No. 34 Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien. Soon Huat-Shevon will open their campaign against Thailand's Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat while Pang Ron-Su Yin will play Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai. Homesters Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara stand in the way of Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien.
The Star
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Confidence on the line as Tang Jie-Ee Wei set to face All-England champs early
National mixed doubles shuttlers Toh Ee Wei and Chen Tang Jie. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei need a big win to restore confidence as the country's top pair. And they will get a chance to do it in the Japan Open starting tomorrow in Tokyo as the are likely to take on All-England champions Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui of China as early as the second round. Tang Jie-Ee Wei have beaten Xinwa-Fanghui in their past meetings in the China Masters and Hong Kong Open last year but the former had showed marked improvement en route to stunning teammates Feng Yanzhe-Wei Yaxin to capture the biggest title in their careers so far in the All-England in Birmingham in March. Doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky believes that a good showing in Japan will boost the pair's confidence. "Tang Jie-Ee Wei's preparations have been good and they are ready for this tournament," said Rexy. "They could face the All-England champions in the second round and this will be a tough challenge for them but if they can overcome this pair, it will give them a confidence boost." The world No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei should have no problems getting past Canada's scratch pair Kevin Lee-Josephine Wu in the first round while Xinwa-Fanghui are also the favourites in their opening match against Indonesia's world No. 14 Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu. Tang Jie-Ee Wei are still searching for their best form and have not reached any finals so far this year. Their best results together this year were semi-final finishes in the Opens in Malaysia, India and Indonesia. Tang Jie-Ee Wei split up at the end of March due to a strained relationship before resolving their differences and reuniting quickly. The other Malaysian mixed doubles pair in the fray are world No. 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, world No. 13 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin and world No. 34 Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien. Soon Huat-Shevon will open their campaign against Thailand's Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat while Pang Ron-Su Yin will play Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai. Homesters Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara stand in the way of Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien.
