Hoo Pang Ron-Ron and Lai Pei Jing emerged as Malaysia’s last surviving mixed doubles pair at the Japan Masters after three other Malaysian combinations suffered first-round exits.
Pang Ron and Pei Jing booked their place in the second round with a comfortable 21-14, 21-14 victory over Canada’s Jonathan Lai and Crystal Lai at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium on Wednesday (Nov 11).
However, the Malaysian pair face a much tougher challenge next as they prepare to meet China’s top seeds Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin for a place in the quarter-finals.
Eighth seeds Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie came close to progressing but were edged out by China’s Zhu Yijun and Li Qian in a thrilling three-game encounter, losing 19-21, 23-21, 21-23.
Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin also failed to advance, going down 8-21, 21-23 to China’s Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui.
Chen Tang Jie and Chan Wen Tse suffered another straight-game defeat, losing 15-21, 10-21 to Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara.
Malaysia’s campaign in the women’s singles also ended in the opening round after both K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching were eliminated.
Ling Ching went down 21-17, 4-21, 13-21 to Thailand’s sixth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong, while Letshanaa lost 18-21, 21-18, 12-21 to Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira.
In the men’s doubles, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun kept Malaysia’s hopes alive with a hard-fought 21-18, 21-23, 21-13 victory over Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul.
They will next face Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard for a place in the quarter-finals.
However, qualifiers Chia Wei Jie and Teo Ee Yi could not join them in the next round after losing 21-19, 14-21, 10-21 to China’s He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu.
