Jing Yi finds chemistry with Joyce to storm into quarter-finals

PETALING JAYA: Former national No. 1 women singles shuttler Tee Jing Yi is enjoying a fine start to her doubles career.

The 26-year-old – playing in her first international doubles outing – teamed up well with Joyce Choong to reach the quarter-finals of the fifth-tier Vietnam International Challenge in Hanoi yesterday.

The duo followed up their upset win against sixth seeds Natcha Saengchote-Thanyasuda Wongya of Thailand on Wednesday’s opening round by outplaying Taiwan Chen Su-yu-Tang Wan-yi 21-14, 21-8 in 24 minutes.

They will face Indonesia’s Pitha Haningtyas Mentari-Virni Putri for a place in the last four today.

“I’m happy we have made this far as we only started training together a week prior to this tournament,” said Jing Yi, a two-time Olympian.

“We did well against a stronger pair yesterday (Wednesday) but we will have to play even better to stand a chance against the Indonesian pair tomorrow.

“I think we can only get better. We must communicate more on and off court to strengthen our partnership.

“This week’s tournament is very important for me. It’s my first doubles assignment and I’m really eager to perform as well as I can.”

Jing Yi’s first doubles appearance with Tan Sueh Jeou at the National Championship last month ended with a quarter-final defeat to top-ranked Vivian HooWoon Khe Wei.

Jing Yi is not expected to have a regular partner for now as plans are afoot to pair her up with Soong Fie Cho when the latter recovers from her knee injury.

Independent men’s doubles pair Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Jagdish Singh are the only other Malaysian survivors in Hanoi.

The world No. 67 powered past Alto Barriq-Reinard Dhanriano of Indonesia 21-16, 21-15 to set up a last-eight clash against homesters Do Tuan Duc-Pham Hong Nam.