PENG SOON-LIU YING GO DOWN FIGHTING AT ALL-ENGLAND
Soon Kit wants doubles pairs to continue with fighting spirit
PETALING JAYA: National doubles head coach Cheah Soon Kit wants the men’s doubles shuttlers to go all the way after getting off to a brilliant start at the All-England Championships in Birmingham.
Rio Olympic silver medallists Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and youngsters Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin cleared the first round matches in contrasting fashion at Arena Birmingham on Wednesday.
V Shem-Wee Kiong redeemed themselves when they blew away fifth seeds Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda of Japan 21-13, 21-17 in just 31 minutes.
It was sweet revenge for the Malaysians after losing to the Japanese pair twice during the Sudirman Cup in 2017 (in group and quarter-finals), which led them to a brief separation for four months last year.
V Shem-Wee Kiong face Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge of England for a place in the quarter-finals.
Youngsters Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi did not give up until the last point when they stunned Fajar AlfianMuhd Rian Adrianto of Indonesia 21-16, 16-21, 23-21 to make a memorable debut.
They have a tough second round match against top seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia.
Soon Kit hoped the boys would continue with their fighting spirit.
“They played with a game plan and banked on one another’s strong points – and kept fighting,” said Soon Kit. “I hope they will keep it up until the end of this tournament,” he said.
Defending champion Lee Chong
Wei took his time to get adjusted to the new service rule when he took 37 minutes to beat Ygor Coelho of Brazil 21-15, 21-17.
He will face Lee Dong-keun of South Korea, who surprised everyone by defeating Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark 13-21, 21-10, 21-17.
Soniia Cheah’s first All-England however ended with a first-round defeat when she lost 16-21, 18-21 to Fitriani Fitriani of Indonesia and she was heartbroken.
“I’ve disappointed myself and let my coach down. I should have won the match after leading 13-1 in the second game,” said Soniia.
“I’m demoralised with the way I lost but I need to bounce back, regain my form and get ready for the Commonwealth Games.
Her younger compatriot Goh Jin Wei plays Aya Ohori of Japan, who pulled off a fantastic 21-16, 21-17 win over sixth seeds Sung Ji-hyun of South Korea.