The country’s two top mixed doubles pairs Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie set up an all-Malaysia quarter-final clash in the mixed doubles in the USD350,000 Perodua Malaysia Masters.
 
The pairs won their respective second round matches at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Thursday.
 
Peng Soon-Liu Ying, fresh from their success in last week’s Thailand Masters in Bangkok where they retained their title, however, were taken the distance before coming back from a game down to prevail 17-21, 21-17, 21-15 win in 58 minutes against China’s Lu Kai-Chen Lu.
 
Soon Huat-Shevon had an easier round, needing only 32 minutes to tame Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Wakana Nagahara 21-13, 21-19.
 
Both the Malaysian pairs are familiar with each other’s game and it could be a touch and go affair for the semi-final slot.
 
“It is not going to be easy. We know the strength and weakness of each other as we have trained together for many years,” said Liu Ying, adding that winning Bangkok last week is added motivation to keep their winning run this year.
 
In another second round mixed doubles match qualifiers Robin Tabelig-Selena Piek of the Natherlands sprang a surprise by knowing out Indonesia’s experienced pair Tontowi Ahmad-Debby Susanto 21-10, 21-12 in only 27 minutes,
 
The Dutch pair will face England’s fourth seeds Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock. The husband and wife team knocked out Thailand’s Nipitphon Phuangphuapet-Savitree Amitrapai 21-10, 21-12 to advance.
 
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s campaign in the women’s doubles came to an end with the defeat of Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen in the second round. The Malaysians fell 9-21, 18-21 to Indonesian qualifiers Yulfira Barkah-Jauzza Fadhila Sugiarto.
 
Last week Thailand Masters winners Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai were also blown away. The Thais lost 14-21, 15-21 to Indonesia’s fourth seeds Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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