Olympians Pearly-Thinaah, Chen-Toh enter Japan Open second round


Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in action during the recent Paris Olympic Games. - Bernama

PETALING JAYA: Olympians Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei defeated Taiwanese opponents in contrasting styles to check into the second round of the women's doubles and mixed doubles respectively at the Japan Open.

Pearly-Thinaah, who became the first Malaysian women pair to reach the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in Paris, got off to a rough start but took time to steady the ship before winning 21-17, 22-24, 21-11 against Hu Ling-fang-Jheng Yu-chieh in the opening round in Yokohama.

They will face Julie Finne-Ipsen-Mai Surrow of Denmark next and should progress to the quarter-finals.

Tang Jie-Ee Wei however, stayed solid in their game to beat Liu Kuang-heng-Jheng-Yu-chieh 21-19, 21-14. The duo, who surprised everyone to reach the quarter-finals in their first Olympics in Paris, will play Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch of Denmark and on paper, should win.

Independent shuttlers Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie's campaign ended after they lost 12-21, 18-21 to China's Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi.

In the men's singles, Leong Jun Hao has set up a match against local star Kodai Naraoka in the second round after disposing of another homester Takuma Obayashi of Japan 21-15, 21-17.

Meanwhile, it was a good day for Malaysia in the men's doubles as both Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and independent shuttlers Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi won their opening matches.

Charting Asean's path forward

They however, will take on each other in the second round, but one ticket is assured for Malaysia in the quarter-finals.

RESULTS

FIRST ROUND

Men's singles: Leong Jun Hao bt Takuma Obayashi (Jpn) 21-15, 21-17.

Men's doubles: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun bt Lin Bingwei-Su Ching-heng (Tpe) 21-10, 21-7; Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi bt Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard (Den) 21-14, 21-13.

Women's doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Hu Ling-fang-Jheng Yu-chieh (Tpe) 21-17, 22-24, 21-11.

Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Liu Kuang-heng-Jheng-Yu-chieh (Tpe) 21-19, 21-14; Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi (Chn) bt Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-12, 21-18.

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