KUCHING: World champions, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, bolster Malaysia’s charge into the round of 16 of the Malaysia Open 1000 after securing a convincing 21-12, 21-17 victory over Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu at the Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur today.
The national top mixed doubles pair weathered a slow opening in the first game before taking control with a series of sharp cross-court shots and quick exchanges at the net to pull clear.
They were more composed in the second game, dictating the pace from the outset before a brief lapse allowed the Indonesians back into contention.
Tang Jie and Ee Wei, however, steadied themselves to close out the match in straight games.
They are joined in the next round with fellow mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, who came through a hard-fought three-game battle against Denmark’s Alexandra Bøje-Mathias Christiansen with a 20-22, 21-18, 21-17 set win.
However it spelt a different ending for Jimmy Wong and Lai Pei Jing as they bowed out after a straight 10-21, 9-21 defeat against Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong.
In other badminton news,men’s doubles pair Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Goh Sze Fei advanced comfortably with a 21-15, 21-14 win against Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard, while women’s doubles pair Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting are out of the race after losing 21-16, 21-11 to Rui Hirokami-Sayaka Hobara.
