HONG KONG, Aug 30: Asia’a top-ranked player Ong Beng Hee of Malaysia was disappointed after narrowly losing a marathon quarterfinal tussle to Australia’s world number four Stewart Boswell at the US$100,000 Hong Kong Open Friday.

Boswell stubbornly hung in to carve out a 14-17, 12-15, 15-9, 15-2, 17-16 victory in 99 minutes filled with tension and drama.

Boswell will now meet world number one Peter Nicol of England in the semifinal. Nicol disposed of England’s Lee Beachill in a straightforward fashion, winning 15-13, 15-13, 15-12 to book his berth.

The drama however all happened in the clash of the young guns. Ong, 22, and seeking to break into the world’s top four, got off to a flyer when he won the first two games and led 5-1 in the third. But he went off the boil to give Boswell a lifeline.

“At 2-0 down, I decided to go back to the basics and just try to hang in there. It paid off,” said the 24-year-old from Canberra. Counter-attacking superbly, he quickly leveled the score at two games apiece and push it into a decider.

“I just lost focus and got a bit tired not physically but mentally,” Ong said explaining his mid-match slump. “He also raised the tempo and counter-attacked well.”

Both players slugged it out in the deciding game. Ong led 14-12 but Boswell saved two match balls to level score and take it to set-three, called by Ong.

The titanic struggle continued with Ong saving a match ball trailing 15-16 before coming on par again at 16-16 only to see Boswell win the match after a let call was denied by the referee.

“This is the first time that I have won a match 17-16 in the final game on a let call. I have lost a few in the past but this time I guess I was lucky,” said a relieved Boswell.

World number two Jonathon Power of Canada had an easier time beating Frenchman Thierry Lincou 15-14, 15-9, 15-7 to enter the semi-final Saturday.

Power will meet Australia’s world number three and defending Hong Kong Open champion David Palmer in the second semifinal. Palmer had to work overtime to beat compatriot Anthony Ricketts 14-15, 13-15, 15-1, 15-12, 15-5.—AFP