KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s favourite men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik had a good start to their day in the Indonesia Open with a win in the second half of first-round matches.
They took the first game with a hopeful 21-18 win against Kim Sa-rang-Kim Gi-jung, but not before the world number 113-ranked South Koreans caught up to them with an impressive 11-21 reverse in the second game.
In the final set, the number seven-ranked Malaysians bounced back and thrashed the Koreans 21-11 to wrap-up the match in under 48 minutes. They will meet Ruben Jille-Ties Van Der Lecq of the Netherlands next.
Meanwhile, hopes of Malaysia’s other men’s doubles pair Nur Izzuddin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei upsetting their Indonesian opponents Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto crumbled as they lost in straight sets 21-19, 21-14 within 39 minutes.
In the mixed doubles category, Chan Peng Soon and Cheah Yee See won against world number 11 pari Lauren Smith-Marcus Ellis of England in a 21-15, 21-16 upset.
However, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing lost to Alexandra Bøje-Mathias Christiansen of Denmark in straight sets, 21-15, 21-16.
Their comrades, Choong Hon Jian and Peck Yen Wei were drawn to face other teammates Chen Tang Jie and Valeree Siow, but lost 21-17, 21-14, giving the latter the chance to fight for a spot in the quarter-finals.
They were not the only ones who were drawn against fellow countrymen. Malaysia’s favourite women’s duo Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah overcame Anna Cheong and Teoh Mei Xing in straight sets 21-12, 21-16 to meet either Thailand or Japan in the round of 16.
Independent men’s singles shuttler Daren Liew also lost against Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong, 21-19, 21-18. – The Vibes, June 15, 2022
