Kian Meng-Pei Jing have still got it
Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing have not lost their touch despite crashing out early in the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) last week.
Yesterday, the World No 20, who are on a comeback trail, reached the mixed doubles second round of the New Zealand Open in Auckland, following a 2118, 21-14 win over sixth seeds Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari of Indonesia.
Prior to their BAC first round exit, Kian Meng-Pei Jing did well to reach the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open and the final of the Singapore Open.
“We prepared ourselves really well before we took on the Indonesians. “It was never going to be easy but we definitely played a better game.
“They're also a young pair, so we had a slight advantage,” said Pei Jing yesterday.
Raring to start collecting Olympic qualifying points, Kian Meng-Pei Jing will face Indonesia’s Akbar Bintang Cahyono-Annisa Saufika tomorrow.
Compatriots, Goh Soon HuatShevon Lai Jemie also brushed their injury woes aside to reach the second round.
The pair, who withdrew from the Asia meet, chalked up a comfortable 21-11, 21-17 win over Singapore’s Danny Bawa Chrisnanta-Tan Wei Han in the first round.
The third seeds face Taiwan's Lee Jhe Huei-Hsu Ya Ching next.
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying will open today against Indonesia's Henrikho Kho Wibowo-Yulia Yosephin Susanto.
In the men’s singles event, Soong Joo Ven and former BA of Malaysia (BAM) shuttler Chong Wei Feng both did well to clear the qualifying round.
Joo Ven and Wei Feng will play South Korea’s Lee Hyun Ill and Indonesia's Ihsan Maulana Mustofa, respectively, in the first round.