Shining examples
Mixed doubles pairs clear Korean Open first round
KUALA LUMPUR: The mixed doubles squad has been a beacon of consistency for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
And the mixed doubles pairs continued to show progress when Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See all cleared their first-round hurdles in the Korean Open in Seoul yesterday.
World No. 9 Kian Meng-Pei Jing led the way as they look to bounce back from their third-round defeat at the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, last month.
The sixth seeds brushed aside Thailand’s Nipitphon Puangpuapech and Jongkolphan Kititharakul 21-13, 21-19 to set up a second-round clash against world No. 18 Soon Huat-Shevon.
SEA Games silver medallists Soon Huat-Shevon showed good fighting spirit to overcome Taiwan’s Lee Yang-Hsu Ya-ching 17-21, 21-19, 21-17.
The last time the two Malaysian pairs met, Kian Meng-Pei Jing won 21-17, 21-9 in the final of the Malaysian Masters in January.
But Kian Meng-Pei Jing believe that their teammates will put up a better performance this time.
“We weren’t at our best today. We’re slowly getting into our rhythm and we’re hoping to get better with each game,” said Pei Jing.
“It will be challenging against Soon Huat-Shevon. I believe they’re at the same level as us although we’re ranked higher.
“The pressure will be on us. So, we’ll have to get a grip of the game quickly if we are to progress further.”
World No. 80 Peng Soon-Yee See also enjoyed an easy opener – thrashing Japan’s Yugo KobayashiMisaki Matsutomo 21-18, 21-9.
The SEA Games bronze medallists, who made the semi-finals of the Vietnam Open last week, will face second seeds Chris AdcockGabrielle Adcock for a place in the quarter-finals.
The English world No. 4 struggled to overcome scratch Korean pair Kim Duk-young-Kim Hye-rin 18-21, 21-14, 21-18.