Tontowi/Liliyana Beat Danish Final to Reach Malaysian Open Final
9 April 2016 16:54 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s top badminton mixed double pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir checked into the final of the 2016 Malaysian Open Super Series Premier after they defeated Danish pair Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christina Pedersen 21-18, 21-17 in the semi final in 42 minutes.
"Although in our last meeting with them we won with a wide margin, we considered that we our chances are just the same so we can stay focused," Liliyana said at Malawati stadium in Shah Alam, Malaysia, on Saturday.
In the first game, the Indonesian pair managed to put pressure on Nielsen/Pedersen 5-3, 11-6, 15-9, 17-11, until the Indonesian game closed the first game 21-18.
In the second game, the Danish pair tried to level game 3-2, 5-4, and 9-8 but Liliyana and Tantowi managed to close the game 21-17 and won the match.
"We were trying to stay focused and did not think whether our opponents could level the game or not. I was just trying to do my best on court,” Tantowi said.
In the final, Liliyana and Tantowi is up against the Malaysian pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying, who downed World Number 1 Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei to reach the final.
IMAM SANTOSO | ANTARA
