KUCHING: In a shocking turn of events, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai were forced to end their Malaysia Masters campaign after crashing out in the first round of the home ground tournament.
The defending champions lost 18-21, 19-21 to Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch of Denmark at Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (May 21).
This defeat marked one of the biggest exits for the World No. 3 pair in the Super Tour circuit since the China Masters last November.
In a post-match interview with the media, Shevon shared that Soon Huat’s recent injury had affected their training, leaving them with just two intense weeks to prepare for the tournament.
“Soon Huat is recovering well, but we’ll be more selective with the tournaments we enter from now on and cap our schedule at three consecutive events,” she stated.
In other mixed doubles news, Ming Yap Too- Lee Yu Shan suffered a similar fate after a grevious 9-21, 13-21 defeat to Thailand’s Ratchapol Makkasasithorn and Nattamon Laisuan.
World No. 65 pair Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien lead a different destiny after turning the tide in a highly contested 22-20, 21-19 battle against World No. 24 pair Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn-Supak Jomkoh.
Joining them were Ee Wei Toh and Loo Bing Kun after they gave Taiwan’s World No. 12 pair Ming Che Lu Hung En-Tzu a major upset with a 21-18, 21-15 set wins.
Meanwhile for the women’s singles category, Letshanaa Karuphathevan lost 21-10, 21-12 to Han Qianxi whereas Jin Wei Goh lost 7-21, 15-21 to World No. 11 Ratchanok intanon.
In the men’s doubles, the home crowd led the rally to liven up the atmosphere after Aaron Tai-Kang and Khai Xing ousted William Kryger Boe-Christian Faust Kjaer in a remarkable 12-21, 21-11, 21-17 comeback against the Danes.
The men’s singles however saw Leong Jun Hao taking his leave from the Super 500 Tour after losing 18-21, 9-21 to Vietnamese-born Irish Nhat Nguyen.