Basel: Facing the 2012 London Olympics women’s singles bronze medalist – Saina Nehwal of India, Malaysia’s World No. 64 Kisona Selvaduray had a challenging start of the Swiss Open second-round match, but she eventually booked her slot in the next round with a well-fought 3-set victory over the World No. 23 Indian 17-21, 21-13, 21-13 in 55 minutes.
Selvaduray will take on World No. 29 Supanida Katethong of Thailand on Friday.
In mixed doubles, Malaysia’s No. 4 seeds Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing have soared into the quarter-finals. Tan/Lai claimed a 21-17, 21-17 triumph over Danish pair Mathias Thyrri/Amalie Magelund on Thursday and will meet another Danish mixed doubles pair – Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje next.
The mixed doubles No. 6 seeds Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai recovered from a slow start, re-establishing themselves strongly in the second game by beating Adam Hall/Julie Macpherson 22-20, 21-8 in the second round. Goh/Lai will play unseeded William Villeger/Anne Tran of France in the last eight.
In an all-Malaysian women’s doubles second round battle, World No. 44 Vivian Hoo/Lim Chiew Sien proved they were stronger than World No. 92 Low Yeen Yuan/Valeree Siow, beating their juniors 21-14, 21-12 to set up a quarter-final face-off against India’s World No. 20 Ashwini Ponnappa/Reddy N. Sikki.
Meanwhile, the World No. 80 Anna Cheong Ching Yik/Teoh Mei Xing pulled off an upset to down World No. 51 Debora Jille/Cheryl Seinen of Netherlands 21-15, 21-14. Cheong/Teoh will meet World No. 30 Linda Efler/Isabel Lohau of Germany on Friday.
