by BERNAMA

Malaysian badminton players have qualified for five semi-finals of the Slovenia International 2021 on Friday.

According to the results in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website, 16-year-old shuttler, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman (picture) continued her fine form in the tournament after pulling off a great comeback to beat Vivien Sandorhazi of Hungary, 15-21, 21-15, 21-13 in the 47 minutes battle.

Siti Nurshuhaini will set up a tie against Mutiara Ayu Puspitasari of Indonesia in the last four of the tournament today.

In the men’s doubles, Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe progressed to the semi-finals after beating Czeh Republic pair, Ondrej Kral-Adam Mendrek, 19-21, 21-15, 21-11 but it was a different story for another Malaysian pair, Junaidi Arif-Haikal Muhammad as they lost to William Kryger Boe-Christian Faust Kjaer of Denmark, 23-25, 16-21.

Indonesian pair, Muh Putra Erwiansyah-Patra Harapan Rindorindo await Chun Meng-Boon Zhe in the next round to determine a place in the final.

Two Malaysian women’s pairs namely, Cheng Su Hui-Cheng Su Yin and Low Yeen Yuan-Valeree Siow, also made the cut into the semi finals.

Su Hui-Su Yin defeated Polina Buhrova-Yana Sobko of Ukraine, 21-11, 21-16 to set up a semi-finals match against third seeded Danish pair, Isabella Nielsen-Marie Louise Steffensen, while Yeen Yuan-Siow will be facing Ukrainian pair, Mariia Stoliarenko-Yelyzaveta Zharka, after thumping Czech Republic’s pair, Alzbeta Basova-Michaela Fuchsova, 21-17, 21-18.

Moving on to the mixed doubles category, Choong Hon Jian-Toh Ee Wei became the sole survivors in the last four after they eliminated Oscar Sunekaer-Mette Werge of Denmark, 21-18, 21-9 and they will meet Kristoffer Knudsen (Denmark)-Malena Norrman (Sweden) in the semi-finals.

Another Malaysian pairs, Haikal Muhammad-Low Yeen Yuan lost to Muh Putra Erwiansyah-Sofy Al Mushira Asharunnisa, 17-21, 18-21, while Goh Boon Zhe-Cheng Su Yin were also knocked out by Andreas Sondergaard-Marie Louise Steffensen, 13-21, 16-21.

Meanwhile, none of the Malaysian shuttlers managed to get through to the last four of the Spain Masters 2021 after they were knocked out in the quarter finals stage on Friday.

Despite winning the first set 21-13, fifth seeded Anna Ching Yik Cheong-Yap Cheng Wen failed to keep up their momentum as first seeds Amalie Magelund-Freja Ravn of Denmark outplayed them in the remaining two sets, 18-21, 17-21, to book a slot to the semi-finals today.

In the men’s singles action, Cheam June Wei was indeed no match to the first seed, Shesar Hiren Rhustavito of Indonesia, after losing 9-21, 10-21 in just 33 minutes.