After the disastrous first round exit in the team event, Malaysia’s two pairs in the men’s doubles – Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi – marched into the second round when the individual events in the 18th Asian Games got underway at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Thursday.
Malaysia’s hopes of winning medals now lie in the individual events after failing to retain their bronze medal in the team event – losing 3-0 to Japan in the first round.
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong outplayed Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh of Thailand 21-15, 21-16 in the first round and will now face Nepal’s Shrestha siblings – Nabin and Bikash for a place in the quarter-finals.
In the battle of the minnows, the Nepalese pair defeated Mongolia’s Sumiyasuren Enkhbat-Temuulen Gombodori 21-12, 21-7.
Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi surprised Hong Kong’s experienced pair of Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Or Chin Chung 21-11, 21-18 but face a tough hurdle in the second round against Japan’s third seeds Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda who stopped Tinn Isriyanet-Kittisak Namdash of Thailand 21-11, 21-16.
In the mixed doubles, Rio Olympics silver medallists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying chopped down India’s 24th ranked Pranaav Jerry Chopra-N. Sikki Reddy 21-15, 23-23.
For a place in the quarter-finals, the Malaysians will take on Hong Kong’s 23rd ranked Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Chau Hoi Wah, 21-11, 21-11 winners over Dipesh Dhani-Jessica Gurung of Nepal.
World No 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie stormed past Wang Chi-lin-Lee Chia-hsin of Chinese Taipei 21-12, 21-16. The Malaysians next play Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying who drew a first-round bye.
In the women’s doubles, Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean will face India’s Ashwini Ponnappa-N. Sikki Reddy in the second round.
The Malaysians gunned down Chen Hsiao Huan-Hu Ling Fang of Chinese Taipei 21-13, 21-14 while the Indians downed Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Yung-Yeung Nga Ting 21-16, 21-15 in their first-round matches. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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