Asian champions Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook once again showed that age is no barrier as they powered into the men's doubles semi-finals in the US$200,000 Aviva Singapore Open at the Indoor Stadium here yesterday.

The duo were the only sparkle in the Malaysia camp as another Malaysian pair Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and singles player Wong Choong Hann fell by the wayside.

Wan Wah-Tan Fook, who last won the Singapore title in 1999, packed off Indonesians Hendra Gunawan-Joko Riyadi in the quarter-finals with a 21-19, 21-12 win in only 28 minutes in the last match of the day. However, Wan Wah-Tan Fook face another Indonesian hurdle for a place in the final in Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan.

The top ranked Indonesian pair stopped Mohd Zakry-Mohd Fairuzizuan 21-19, 21-14 in yesterday's quarter-final in 30 minutes. The match saw the Indonesians use their experience to full advantage against the newly formed Malaysian combination, playing together for the first time in a Super Series tournament.

Wan Wah-Tan Fook would have made their stay on court much shorter if Tan Fook had managed to pull off a spectacular move.

The Malaysians were leading 17-10 when Tan Fook’s racquet string snapped in mid-play. He managed to run out of court, grabbed a spare racquet and returned in time to take a smash from the Indonesians. Unfortunately, his return went wide.

After winning the point to make it 11-17, the Indonesians gained in confidence to make it 17-all. The Malaysians, however, recovered in time to win 21-19.

In the second game the Malaysians started off aggressively and never allowed their opponents to settle down in their 21-12 win.

“We are old now but still have plenty of badminton in us. Our semi-final opponents are Markis and Hendra and it will be a tough match. We played them in the last World Championships and lost,” said Wan Wah.

“But we are ready to do battle once again. We will find a way to tackle them. It has been a good run for us after winning the Asian title in Johor Baru two weeks ago. That will spur us on,” he added.

For the 30-year-old Choong Hann, there was satisfaction despite his defeat to China's Chen Yu in the quarter-finals. The former national number one was beaten 17-21, 15-21 in 37 minutes by the Chinese but is not losing any sleep over his failure to make the last four – not when he had to go through two qualifying rounds before making the main draw.

Reaching the last eight is more than an achievement for Choong Hann whose next stop is the New Zealand Open which will be held in Auckland from May 15-20. He is not playing in the Indonesian Open which begins in Jakarta this Wednesday.

“It is a good start for me to have reached this far in a Super Series tournament. I made some silly mistakes against Chen Yu. I have to build up my confidence and work on my fitness,” said Choong Hann.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana pulled off a major upset when he sent world number one and top seed Lin Dan of China crashing out to a 21-17, 7-21, 23-21 defeat for his first win in five meetings. The Thai will now meet Singapore's Ronald Susilo in the semi-finals.

Defending champion Peter Gade- Christensen is on course to retain his title when he edged past compatriot Kenneth Jonassen 13-21, 21-17, 21-19 but was stretched all the way before tasting victory.

Copyright © 2007 Star Malaysia