Smashing show: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (right) are through to the quarter-finals in the Indonesian Open.
PETALING JAYA: National men doubles pairs Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun roared the loudest in the Indonesian Open in a day when Olympic Games-bound Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik sunk into oblivion.
In fact, Sze Fei-Izzuddin even silenced the boisterous home crowd at the Istora Senayan with superb play after beating home favourites Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin 16-21, 21-16, 21-12 in the second round yesterday.
The world No. 13, who did not qualify for the Paris Games, will play second seeds Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang of China in the quarter-finals today. The China pair knocked out Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan17-21, 22-20, 21-18 in a thrilling match.
Sze Fei, while happy with the result, admitted that the match wasn’t just against Leo-Daniel, but against every Indonesian fan at the stadium in Jakarta.
“We didn’t feel like we were playing against Leo-Daniel, but against the whole stadium,” said Sze Fei. “It felt like it was us against 3,000 people,” said Sze Fei.
But the pair managed to find their rhythm to bounce back from a game down, capitalising on their serves and receives, to book their last eight spot.
“Our communication has also been better now, which has been the key for our improved performances,” said Sze Fei.
Tough task: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will face China’s Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan in the quarter-finals.
Back-up pair Wei Chong-Kai Wun entered their first Super 1000 quarter-finals after pulling off a sensational 21-18, 19-21, 21-12 win against Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard of Denmark to set up a meeting against Lu Ching-yao-Yang Po-han of Taiwan.
The world No. 20 Wei Chong-Kai Wun will get the chance to avenge their seniors Aaron-Wooi Yik, who lost with a team 16-21, 14-21 defeat to the Taiwanese in another second round match.
Kai Wun credited their win to keeping the pace of the match at a high level.
“We were unable to keep up to the fast pace in the last few tournaments but we played with a better speed here. We want to maintain this form and go all the way,” said Kai Wun.
There was also joy for women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing.
Pearly-Thinaah fought brilliantly to beat fancied home stars Apriani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti 21-18, 21-19 but have a tough task against top seeds Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan of China next.
Kian Meng-Pei Jing showed determination to beat Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje of Denmark 15-21, 23-21, 21-14 and will face South Koreans Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun for a place in the semi-finals.
