# Iskandar and Joo Ven advance to second round
# Men’s doubles Aaron-Wooi Yik stay alive
# All over for mixed doubles pairs
Former world No 2 Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark who led his country to retain the European team title last week in Kazan, Russia handed Malaysia’s Thomas Cup bound singles hope Lee Zii Jia a 21-15, 21-14 beating in the first round in the Swiss Open in Basel on Wednesday.
The Dane who is making a comeback to competitive badminton after a long layoff from injury needed only 30 minutes to oust the Malaysian and will face another Malaysian hopeful Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin in the second round.
Another of Malaysia’s Thomas Cup hopeful Soong Joo Ven also advanced with a 24-22, 21-19 win over Thailand’s Namkul Adulrach in a tight 42-minute encounter.
Zii Jia, together with world No 2 Lee Chong Wei are already assured of their place in the Malaysian Thomas Cup squad but Iskandar, Joo Ven, together with Asian Under-19 champion and world junior silver medal winner Leong Jun Hao will battle for the third singles slot.
Iskandar, who was promoted to the main draw in the Swiss Open, had to battle for a solid one hour before he could subdue Finland’s Eetu Heino in three games 21-23, 21-14, 21-10.
Joo Ven will face another Thai hurdle in Suppanyu Avinhingsanon in the second round. The fourth seeded Thai was also involved in a three-game battle to defeat Denmark’s Kim Bruun 21-11, 19-21, 21-19.
Malaysia also remained alive in the men’s doubles when Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik defeated the scratch Indonesian-Bulgarian pair Titon Gustaman-Stilian Makarski 16-21, 21-19, 21-7.
They next face Germany’s Mark Lamsfuss-Marvin Emil Seidel who won 21-8, 21-14 against Kenji Lovana-William Villeger of France.
However, another Malaysian pair Shia Chun Kang-Tan Wee Gieen were shown the exit – losing 9-21, 19-21 to top seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Morgensen of Denmark in 30 minutes.
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RESULTS (SELECTED)
FIRST ROUND
Men’s Singles
Jan O Jorgensen (Den) beat Lee Zii Jia (Mas) 21-15, 21-14
Soong Joo Ven (Mas) beat Namkul Adulrach (Tha) 24-22, 21-19
Iskdandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin (Mas) beat Eetu Heino (Fin) 21-23, 21-14, 21-10
Suppanyu Avihingsanon (Tha) beat Kim Bruunn (Den) 21-11, 19-21, 21-19
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Men’s Doubles
Mathias Boe-Carsten Morgensen (Den) beat Shia Chun Kang-Tan Wee Gieen (Mas) 21-9, 21-19
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) beat Titon Gustaman-Stilian Markaski (Ina/Bul) 16-21, 21-19, 21-7
Mark Lamsfuss-Marvin Emil Seidel (Ger) beat Kenji Lovana-William Villeger (Fra) 21-8, 21-14
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Mixed Doubles
Kittisak Namdash-Savitree Amitrapai (Tha) beat Shia Chun Kang-Tan Wee Gieen (Mas) 21-9, 21-19
Marvin Emil Seidel-Linda Feler (Ger) beat Hoo Pang Ron-Peck Yen Wei (Mas) 21-18, 22-20
