The charge was led by world No 2 women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, who breezed past Thailand’s Benyapa Aimsaard-Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-11, 21-14 in just 30 minutes in Bangkok today.
Top men’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun also booked semi-final slots at the expense of their Thai opponents, who were backed by a vociferous home crowd.
World No 2 pair Aaron-Wooi Yik defeated Supak Jomkoh-Kittinupong Kedren 21-16, 21-16 and will meet Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando-Maulana Bagas, whom they have beaten in both their encounters so far, for a place in the finals.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun, ranked world No 5, booked their place in the last four after defeating Peeratchai Sukhpun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-16, 21-19.
They will meet the tough Indonesian combination of Sabar Karwaman Gutama-Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in the semi-finals.
Men’s singles shuttlers Justin Hoh and Leong Jun Hao were in fine form against their Thai opponents, winning in straight games.
Justin beat Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-15, 21-17 and will take on the winner of the match between Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan and Clarence Villaflor of the Philippines next.
Jun Hao overcame Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 21-18, 21-16 and will face either Low Kean Yew of Singapore or Indonesia’s Zaki Ubaidillah for a place in the finals.
World mixed doubles champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei also had an easy passage to the last four, defeating Singapore’s Terry Hee-Jin Yu Jia 21-12, 21-14 in just 32 minutes.
They will meet home pair Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat in the semi-finals.
Tang Jie won the gold medal partnering Peck Yen Wei in the 2021 SEA Games.
The seventh Malaysian representative to advance, Wong Ling Ching, beat Indonesia’s Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi 21-11, 21-17 in the women’s singles category to book a semi-final spot.
However, she will face a stern test as her next opponent is Thai champion Intanon Ratchanok, who is ranked world No 8.
In other matches, Malaysia’s second mixed doubles pair of Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin went down to Thailand’s top pair of Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran 12-21, 15-21.
Singles shuttler K Letshanaa put up a gallant fight against the top seed from Indonesia, Putri Kusuma Wardani, before losing 18-21, 13-21.
Women’s doubles pair Go Pei Kee-Teo Mei Xing lost to Fabriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilysa Tria Puspitasari of Indinesia 15-21, 12-21.