PETALING JAYA: Malaysia‘s mixed doubles shuttlers are off to a promising start as three pairs power their way into the second round of the Japan Open on Wednesday (May 16).
Leading the charge at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium were sixth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie. The duo were in fine form, easily dispatching Thailand’s Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat 21-15, 21-10.
Meanwhile, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei swept aside their Canadian opponents, Kevin-Josephine Wu, with a confident 21-15, 21-19 win to book their spot in the next round.
The winning momentum continued with Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, though they were forced to dig deep for their victory. The pair were stretched to a rubber game by Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai before ultimately prevailing 21-19, 12-21, 21-16.
However, it wasn’t a perfect day for the Malaysian camp. Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien saw their journey come to an early end after they were beaten 9-21, 8-21 by home pair Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara.
