# Three mixed doubles pairs still in the race
Malaysia suffered embarrassing first-round defeats in the Daihatsu Yonex Japan Open in Tokyo on Wednesday as Malaysian badminton took another nosedive in international tournaments.
Former World No 1 Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong could not sustain their momentum and fell to a 21-15, 21-23, 19-21 defeat to India’s Manu Attri-B. Sumeeth Reddy in a 54-minute match.
Indonesia’s Asian Games silver medal winners Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto then handed Malaysia’s second pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi a 21-17, 21-18 a beating in 35 minutes.
There was more to come when professionals Arif Abdul Latif-Nur Azriyn Ayub went out fighting against Indonesians Berry Angriawan-Hardianto-Hardianto who advanced with a 21-14, 17-21, 21-16 win in 55 minutes.
The women’s singles challenge suffered a similar fate with Goh Jin Wei and Soniia Cheah crashing out in their first-round matches. Jin Wei, however, stretched Korea’s veteran Sung Ji-hyun for 64 minutes before bowing out 21-14, 14-21, 16-21.
Soniia also gave a fighting display but it was not enough against top seed and world number one Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei who triumphed 21-18, 21-18.
Malaysia, however, made a strong start in the mixed doubles first round matches and have three pairs in the second round.
Rio Olympics silver medallists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying led the charge with a 21-14,21-18 win over Chinese Taipei’s Lee Yang-Hsu Ya Ching and will face India’s Pranaav Jerry Chopra-N. Sikki Reddy next.
Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing ousted SEA Games champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai in three-games 7-21, 21-16, 21-15. In the second round, the Malaysians are up against China’s fifth seeds Zhang Nan-Li Yinhui who beat Russians Rodion Alimov-Alina Davletova 21-11, 21-18.
Also through are sixth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie who advanced without lifting their racquets after receiving a walkover from Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Alexandra Boje who withdrew. The Malaysians will take China’s He Jiting-Du Yue. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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