KUALA LUMPUR: After the high of making the semi-finals of the Japan Open last week, men’s doubles pair Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong were brought crashing back to earth with a first round exit at the Indonesian Open GP Gold in Palembang yesterday.

The pair were clearly off colour against Indonesia’s Wijaya Rendra-RianSukmawan, losing 17-21, 21-16, 15-21.

It goes to show that Thien How-Wee Kiong need to work harder on being more consistent.

There was more misery in the men’s doubles department as Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han, Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi and the KLRC duo of Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif crashed out in the first round as well.

Luckily for Malaysia, the scratch pair of Mohd Lufti Zaim-Teo Kok Siang brought some cheer after playing superbly to stun second seeds Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Noriyasu Hirata of Japan.

They won 21-16, 21-15 and will take on Indonesians Hafiz Faisal-Putra Eka Rhoma for a place in the quarter-finals.

There was also good news in the men’s singles as reigning world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkifli led a host of youngsters through to the third round.

The 19-year-old City lad was in fine form as he smashed his way past local hopeful Febriyan Irvannaldy 21-16, 21-8 in 34 minutes.

Zulfadli, who is ranked 78th in the world, will face sixth seed Alamsyah Yunus for a place in the quarter-finals.

“I definitely played better in this round compared to the first and I think I’m improving with each match,” said Zulfadli in a text message.

“The courts were unusually windy but the shuttlecocks were much slower and that helped a lot.

“It will be tough against Alamsyah as he is very experienced but I will do my best. I believe I can pull off an upset.”

National back-up shuttlers Misbun Ramdan Misbun, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin and Goh Soon Huat also cleared their second round hurdles.

Ninth seed Ramdan was the toast as he took just 28 minutes to pack off Indonesia’s Senatria Agus Setia Putra 21-11, 21-14.

The lanky 20-year-old faces an uphill task next as he will come up against second seed Sho Sasaki of Japan today.

In women’s doubles, defending champions Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei were a massive letdown, losing 18-21, 13-21 to home pair Anggia Shitta Awanda-Devi A Shela.

RESULTS

(Malaysian results only)

> FIRST ROUND

Men’s doubles: Rahmat Adianto-Angriawan Berry (Ina) bt Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul 22-20, 18-21, 23-21; Markis Kido-Tri Kusharjanto (Ina) bt Low Juan Shen-Tan Yip Jiun 25-23, 21-12; Wijaya Rendra-Rian Sukmawan (Ina) bt Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong 21-17, 16-21, 21-15; Wahyu Nayaka Arya Pankarnayira-Ade Yusof (Ina) bt Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi 21-17, 21-15; Ricky Karanda Suwardi-Mohd Ullinuha (Ina) bt Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han 21-16, 21-18; Mohd Lufti Zaim-Teo Kok Siang bt Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Noriyasu Nirata (Jpn) 21-16, 21-15.

Women’s singles: Rusydina Antardayu Riodinggin (Ina) bt Yang Li Lian 21-13, 21-19; Lindaweni Fanetri (Ina) bt Sonia Cheah 21-10, 21-11.

Women’s doubles: Anneke Feinya Agustin-Nitya Krishinda Maheshwari (Ina) bt Shevon Lai Jemie-Lim Yin Loo 21-16, 21-15; Anggia Shitta Awanda-Devi A Shela (Ina) bt Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei 21-18, 21-13; Lai Pei Jing-Marylen Ng bt Kesyha Nurvita Hanadia-Devi Tika Permatasari (Ina) 19-21, 21-18, 21-15.

Mixed doubles: Fadhilah Irfan-Anggraini Weni (Ina) bt Ong Jian Guo-Lim Yin Loo 21-16, 15-21, 21-15; Lukhi Apri Nugroho-Annisa Saufika (Ina) bt Tan Wee Kiong-Vivian Hoo 21-15, 21-23, 21-14; Muhammad Rijal-Debby Susanto (Ina) bt Wong Fai Yin-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-19, 21-5.

> SECOND ROUND

Men’s singles: Misbun Ramdan Misbun bt Senatria Agus Setia Putra (Ina) 21-11, 21-14; Andrew Smith (Eng) bt Chiang Jiann Shiarng 21-17, 21-16; Goh Soon Huat bt Resky Aureza Megananda (Ina) 21-13, 21-17; Hong Ji-hoon (Kor) bt Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 18-21, 21-18, 21-16; Mohd Arif Abdul Latif bt Arif Ramadhan (Ina) 21-19, 21-19; Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin bt Siswanto (Ina) 21-13, 21-19; Zulfadli Zulkifli bt Febriyan Irvannaldy (Ina) 21-16, 21-8.

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