There was some cheer for Malaysia in the men’s and women’s doubles in the first round matches in the USD600,000 Victor Korea Open at the SK Handball Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday
Also through to the second round is independent shuttler Liew Daren in the men’s singles on a day when another professional Chong Wei Feng fell to world champion and second seed Kento Momota of Japan in straight games 21-16, 21-17.
Daren defeated Chinese qualifier Zhou Zeqi in three-games – 15-21, 21-10, 21-17 – to earn a second-round clash against Indonesia’s eighth seed Tommy Sugiarto, 21-9, 21-16 winner over South Korean veteran Lee Hyun Il.
In the men’s doubles, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik came had to dig deep into their reserves to snatch a nail-biting 24-22, 26-24 win over Thailand’s experienced pair Bodin Isara-Maneepong Jongjit in 42 minutes.
For a place in the quarter-finals, the Malaysians will face China’s Huang Kaixiang-Wang Zekang who beat Lee Sheng-mu-Yang Po-hsuan of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 13-21, 23-21.
Also in the second round are Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen who won 21-17, 21-16 against Chang Ko-chi-Lu Chia Pin of Chinese Taipei. Their next opponents are another Chinese Taipei pair Liao Min-chun-Su Ching-heng.
Malaysia also saw both its women’s doubles pairs clearing the first hurdle. Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean had the easiest task, needing only two minutes to advance after Korean fifth seeds Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan retired with the score 5-1 in favor of the Malaysians. Another Korean hurdle awaits them in the second round – Chang ye-na-Jung Kyung-eun.
Vivian Hoo and her new partner Yap Cheng Wen strolled to a 21-14, 21-12 win over Emily Kan-Isabel Zhong of the United States and will face Indonesia’s Anggia Shitta Awanda-Ni Ketut Mahadewi Istarani in the second round. RIZAL ABDULLAH
