There was the joy for Lee Ying Ying in the women’s singles in the USD700,000 Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open at the Axiata Arena but compatriot Soniia Cheah once again fell victim to world No 1 and top seed Tai Tzu Ying in the first round matches on Wednesday.
 
Ying Ying cleared her first hurdle with a three-game 21-14, 19-21, 21-7 victory over Chiang Ying Li of Chinese Taipei in 52 minutes. While cherishing her surprise win the Malaysian faces a tough second-round match against third seed and Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu for a place in the quarter-finals.
 
The lanky Indian downed Japan’s Aya Ohori after a tough first game before prevailing 26-24, 21-15 in a 45-minute encounter.
 
“I have never played Sindhu before. Sindhu is not only tall but has power in her shots. Still, I am not going to allow that affect my game against her and hope to get another positive result,” said Ying Ying.
Soniia, who lost to Tzu Ying also in the first round (18-21, 21-12, 21-12)  in the Perodua Malaysia Masters in January was beaten in straight games this time 21-10, 21-9.
 
The women’s doubles also produced mixed fortunes with new pair Lim Chiew Sien-Tan Sueh Jeou joining Vivian Hoo-Soong Fie Cho in the second round.
 
Chiew Sien-Sueh Jeou needed only 20 minutes to romp past Ariel Lee-Sydney Lee of the United States 21-5, 21-5 while Vivian-Fie Cho battled for 78 minutes to overcome Naoko Fukuman-Karumi Yanao of Japan 16-21, 21-18, 21-15.
Three other Malaysian pairs – Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean; Lim Jee Lynn-Yap Zhen; and Goh Yea Ching-Tee Jing Yi fell by the wayside in their opening round matches. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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