World No. 2 women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah powered into the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals today after defeating Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari in straight games.
Fresh off their silver medal finish at the World Championships, Pearly-Thinaah battled hard before sealing a 21-18, 21-17 win in just 38 minutes. Their Indonesian opponents, competing in their first tournament together, led 14-8 in the opening game before the Malaysians fought back to take control.
The defending Hong Kong Open champions will face fellow Malaysians Go Pei Kee and Teoh Mei Xing in the quarter-finals tomorrow. Pei Kee-Mei Xing, ranked world No. 20, advanced after edging Taiwan’s Hsu Ya Ching and Sung Yu Hsuan 21-19, 21-18 in 40 minutes. With both Malaysian pairs set to clash, the nation is guaranteed at least one spot in the semi-finals.
In men’s doubles action, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun exited the tournament after falling to Taiwan’s Lee Jhe Huei and Yang Po Hsuan. Despite forcing a decider, the world No. 6 pair lost 17-21, 21-11, 15-21 in 45 minutes. Both pairs now share two wins each in their four career meetings. Wei Chong-Kai Wun also failed to reach the World Championships quarter-finals last month.
Meanwhile, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King advanced to the men’s doubles quarter-finals earlier today. World No. 3 duo Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will play their second-round match later in the day.
