Reigning Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi of Japan ended Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei’s campaign in the women’s doubles in the World Championships in Nanjing on Wednesday.
The Malaysians, however, took the third-seeded Japanese the full distance before succumbing to a 12-21, 21-19, 12-21 defeat in 55 minutes in the second round match.
Back in partnership after a six-month break-up because Khe Wei was sidelined to a knee injury she sustained during the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Alor Setar in February the Malaysians gave a good account of themselves in Nanjing.
In the first round, Vivian-Khe Wei beat the French pair of Delphine Delbrue-Lea Palermo 21-17, 22-20.
Malaysia, however, still have a pair in the women’s doubles – Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean. Runners-up in last week’s Russian Open in Vladivostok, Mei Kuan-Meng Yean will meet Indonesia’s fifth seeds Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu in the third round.
Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong defeated compatriots Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ei Yi in straight games 21-16, 21-15 in 31 minutes.
In the third round on Thursday, the Olympic silver medallists will face fourth seeds Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen of China who beat Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi 21-16, 21-10.
Another Malaysian pair in the third round in the men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik who stunned No 12 seeds, Lee Jhe-huei-Lee Yang of Chinese Taipei 16-21, 21-18, 21-19.
They will meet Denmark’s No 8 seeds Kim Astrup-AndersSkaarup Rasmussen in the third round. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
- Advertisement - 
