Fresh from their triumphant outing at the World Junior Championships in China, Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing did not let up in the 2024 Malaysia Super 100 when they made a smashing start at the Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara.
The newly- crowned World Junior Men’s Doubles champions were fully tested in the Round of 32 against a gritty Chiang Chien-wei-Wei Chun-wei from Chinese Taipei when the latter took the first set 21-18.
However, Aaron-Tai were not about to make just a short appearance at home when they got their act together to take the next two sets 21-17, 21-19 in a duel that lasted 53 minutes.
The pair of 17-year-olds will next take on another pair from Chinese Taipei in the Round of 16 tomorrow in Wu Hsuan-yi-YE Hong-wei.
Hsuan-yi-Hong-wei overcame Thailand’s Narut Saengkham-Apichasit Teerawiwat 21-17, 18-21, 21-16.
In the meantime, Justin Hoh bounced into the Round of 16 of the Men’s Singles with a straight-set victory over Abhishek Yeligar from India.
The 20-year-old, who had won the Slovenia Open and also the Saipan Open this year, overcame the much older Abhishek 22-20, 21-14.
With Eogene Ewe unable to get the better of sixth seeded Riku Hatano from Japan in his Round of 32 clash, seventh seeded Cheam June Wei booked his place in the next round with a 19-21, 21-15, 21-15 victory over countryman Ong Zhen Yi.
June Wei’s opponent tomorrow is Huang Yu-kai from Chinese Taipei, who edged teammate Cheng Kai 21-19, 21-14.