KUALA LUMPUR — While it may only be a chance to play in the final, for national mixed doubles player Hoo Pang Ron, advancing with Cheng Su Yin at the China Masters marks a turning point in a career that has struggled to gain traction despite eight years in the national squad.
Pang Ron and Su Yin pulled off another upset in Shenzhen, overcoming Hong Kong’s third seeds Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet with a 21-14, 17-21, 21-19 victory.
Earlier in the tournament, they stunned second-seeded Chinese pair Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin in the second round.
For Pang Ron, reaching the final holds deep meaning, especially since it has been years since his last appearance at this stage in a BWF World Tour event.
His previous final was at the 2019 Hyderabad Open, where he won the title with Cheah Yee See.
Since then, Pang Ron has faced frequent partner changes. Now paired with Su Yin, he hopes to pull off another upset in tomorrow’s final against China’s top seeds Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping.
“For me, it’s unbelievable. I think this is my first final in so many years, so I’m really happy about it.
“We’ll go into the final as underdogs since they are one of the top pairs, but we’ll give it our all. There’s no pressure. We just want to fight hard and show the crowd what we’re capable of.
“There were struggles in the second and third sets today, but as a doubles pair, we supported each other, and that helped us stay confident and motivated throughout the match,” Pang Ron said in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
He is fully aware of the tough challenge awaiting them in the final. Yan Zhe and Dong Ping not only have an impressive record but will also enjoy the strong support of the home crowd.
The Malaysian duo previously lost to the Chinese pair in the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Open last September.
“Playing against them on their home ground will be tough because they’re very strong, but we’ll analyse our game, communicate with our team, and hopefully perform well tomorrow.
“We lost to this same Chinese pair in the Hong Kong Open semi-finals, so overcoming key moments—whether trailing or leading at crucial points—will be important. I’ll focus on keeping us calm and confident as we move forward,” he added. — November 23, 2024