In control: Low Yeen Yuan (left) and Lee Xin Jie in action against Vietnam’s Than Van Anh-Vu Thi Anh during the women’s doubles match. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
IT was a huge relief for national women’s doubles pair Low Yeen Yuan-Lee Xin Jie after clearing the opening round at the SEA Games in Cambodia.
Both had been part of the women’s team that had suffered an embarrassing 0-3 loss to the Philippines in the team event recently.
Xin Jie did not play in the tie as Valeree Siow was preferred over her to partner Yeen Yuan.
The move though did not pay off as Valeree-Yeen Yuan fell to a shock 20-22, 21-19, 22-24 defeat at the hands of Alyssa Leornardo-Thea Pomar in the first doubles, which eventually saw the team crumble to minnows the Philippines.
Yesterday, there were no slip-ups from Yeen Yuan as she formed a better partnership with Xin Jie to beat Vietnam’s Than Van Anh-Vu Thi Anh 21-17, 21-13 to reach the last eight at the Morodok Techo badminton hall in Phnom Penh.
“We are happy to get off to a good start here,” said Xin Jie.
“We hope to continue our momentum in our next match. We want to go as far as possible.”
Yeen Yuan-Xin Jie will next face Thailand’s Chasinee Korepap-Pitchamon Opatniputh for a place in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, it was double joy for Cheng Su Yin after she reached both the women’s and mixed doubles quarter-finals.
In the women’s doubles, Su Yin combined with twin sister, Su Hui, to defeat Vietnam’s Dinh Thi Phuong-Pham Thi Khanh 21-19, 21-15.
Su Yin and Su Hui will next face Singapore’s Heng Xiao En-Elsa Lai.
In the mixed doubles, Su Yin along with Yap Roy King defeated Xiao En and Donovan Wee 21-14, 21-17.
Roy King-Su Yin will meet home pair Vath Vannthoun-Lim Kimloung in the last eight today.
It was also a good day for men’s doubles pairs Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe and Chia Weijie-Liew Xun after both made it into the quarter-finals.
Chun Meng-Boon Zhe face a rematch against Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, whom they had beaten in the last four of the men’s team event recently while Weijie-Liew Xun will play Singapore’s Nge Joo Jie-Johann Prajogo.
