Malang: Despite playing two matches in the qualifying round yesterday, Malaysia’s young men’s doubles Tan Kian Meng-Low Juan Shen who were only playing in their second tournament as a pair has plenty of energy left in the tank, as they dashed past Indonesia’s Yohanes Rendy Sugiarto-Afiat Yuris Wirawan 21-11, 21-19 in the first round of Indonesian Masters main draw in Malang on Wednesday.
Tan Kian Meng – Low Juan Shen will play No. 4 seeds Angga Pratama and Ricky Karanda Suwardi on Thursday for a spot in the quarter-final.
Malaysia’s men’s singles shuttlers Goh Soon Huat and Soo Teck Zhi were made to work hard for their rubbers. Goh Soon Huat, who lost to Jeon Hyeok Jin of Korea in the semi-finals of the Macau Open GP Gold last week, needed 77 minutes to dispatch Riyanto Subagja of Indonesia 21-16, 20-22, 21-13; while No. 15 seed Soo Teck Zhi fought from one set down to beat Saputra Alvindo also from Indonesia 19-21, 21-17, 21-12 in 53 minutes. Goh will face Qiao Bin of China on Thursday, and Soo faces another Indonesian Mahbub Thomi Azizan.
In women’s competition, No. 1 seed and last week’s Macau Open champion P.V. Sindhu of India had to dig deep to progress to the Indonesian Masters second round with a three-set 21-16, 19-21, 21-12 win over Gregoria Mariska of Indonesia. Sindhu will take on Indonesian shuttler Wulan Cahya Utami Sukoputri next. Malaysia’s women’s singles player Tee Jing Yi got off to a good start in the opening day by beating Indonesia’s Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto 21-16, 21-16, and will battle China’s Chen Yufei for a place in the quarter-finals. Lim Yin Fun, however, was knocked out by Indonesia’s Lindaweni Fanetri, losing 15-21, 18-21.
After receiving first round byes, top Malaysian women’s pairs Vivian Hoo Kah Mun-Woon Khe Wei and Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho will start their first match in the second round on Thursday.
In one of the most compelling matches of the day, scratch pair Chow Mei Kuan-Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia withstood a stubborn challenge from Indonesia’s Puspita Richi Dili-Rizki Amelia Pradipta before dousing the Indonesians 18-21, 26-24, 23-21. The Malaysians will play Indonesia’s Apriani Rahayu-Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto in the second round.
