KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) — The national badminton squad suffered back-to-back losses in the second round matches at the China Masters in Guangzhou, Thursday.
The major upset was when the top men’s doubles pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, who are seeded third, were shown the exit by the unseeded Sun Jun/Xu Chen of China in straight sets 25-23, 21-19.
Earlier, fourth-seeded pair Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif/Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari were outplayed by the Indonesian pair of Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Joko Riyadi in a three-set thriller 12-21, 21-19, 21-8.
The crumble continued with the pair of Mohd Razif Abdul Latif/Tan Wee Kiong being beaten by another Indonesian pair Yonatan Suryatama Dasuki-Rian Sukmawan followed by Hoon Thien How/Ong Soon Hock going down to second-seeded Cai/Fu Haifeng of China 21-15, 17-21, 22-20.
The Malaysian’s mixed doubles fared no better with all three pairs in the fray shown the exit in their respective matches.
SECOND ROUND RESULTS (Only Malaysian matches):
Men’s Doubles:
Sun Junjie/Xu Chen (CHN) bt Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong (MAS) 25-23, 21-19; Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif/Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari (MAS) bt Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Joko Riyadi (INA) 12-21,21-19, 21-8;
Khoo Chung Chiat/Tan Bin Shen (MAS) bt Chan Chong Ming/Chew Choon Eng (MAS) 22-20, 21-18;
Yonatan Suryatama Dasuki/Rian Sukmawan bt Mohd Razif Abdul Latif/Tan Wee Kiong 21-17, 21-19; Cai Yu/Fu Haifeng bt Hoon Thien How/Ong Soon Hock (MAS) 21-15, 17-21, 22-20.
Mixed Doubles:
Shen Ye/Pan Pan (CHN) bt Lim Khim Wah/Wong Pei Tty (MAS) 21-19, 21-19;
Muhammad Rijal/Vita Marissa (INA) bt Hoon Thien How/ Chin Eei Hui (MAS) 21-17, 17-21, 21-11;
Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen (CHN) bt Koo Kien Keat/Ng Hui Lin (MAS) 23-21, 21-15.
