Hong Kong Open: Hong Kong pair Tang and Tse one step from historic win after reaching mixed-doubles final

Home favourites Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet reached their first Hong Kong Open final after cruising to a comfortable win over Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai of Malaysia on Saturday.

While the vocal support for the mixed-doubles pair at the Hung Hom Coliseum continued with a packed 6,500 crowd chanting throughout the tie, it was the skills and techniques of Tang and Tse that saw them dominate the match with a 21-12, 21-12 victory in a mere 35 minutes.

Hong Kong’s badminton team have never won a doubles title at home, leaving Tang and Tse on the verge of making history. They will now face China’s Guo Xinwa and Wei Yaxin who beat Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito 21-19, 21-18 in the second semi-final.

Wang Chen clinched a women’s singles title for Hong Kong in 2008, while compatriot’s Angus Ng Ka-long and Lee Cheuk-yiu took gold in the men’s singles in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

“It is too early to talk about the title as we still have the final tomorrow,” Tse said. “But playing in front of the home crowds with family and friendly watching us to reach the final, it’s an amazing job.

“The fans worked so hard to support us and we want to do our best to thank them.”