# Zulfadli bundled out in the first round
# Kien Keat-Boon Heong in second round
Malaysia’s top doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong together with independent pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong stayed alive in the men’s doubles after the completion of the first round matches on Wednesday in the USD600,000 Viktor Korean Open.
However, Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s singles ended in the first round when privateer Zulfadli Zulkifli, ranked No 36 was bundled out by Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto 21-14, 21-18 in 34 minutes. The Indonesian is ranked No 16.
Malaysia’s best hope in the singles, former World No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei failed to make the main draw after his surprise defeat in the qualifying round – losing to 20-year-old Korean youngster 19-21, 19-21 in the first round.
It has been a bad two weeks for the 28th ranked Chong Wei. He also lost to eventual champion Lin Dan in the second round in the Yonex Japan Open in Tokyo.
V Shem-Wee Kiong walked away with a 21-15, 21-13 win over Koreans Chan Jun-bong-Kim Dae-eun in only minutes.
However, the second hurdle will be a tough one for the Malaysians when take on second seeds Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia who won 21=13, 21-16 against Thailand’s Puavaranukroh Dechapol-Kedren Kittinupon.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong were too strong for the English pair of Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge with a 21-16, 21-10 win in 37 minutes.
They second round opponents are fifth seeds Chai Biao-Hong Wei of China. The Chinese beat Denmark’s Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-19, 21-15.
Japan Open winner Lin Dan advanced to the second round with a 21-17, 21-17 win over Japan’s Riichi Takeshita. Compatriot and top seed, world No 1 Chen Long also cleared the first round, defeating Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 21-10, 21-12.
India’s unseeded Ajay Jayaram upset Japan Open runners-up Viktor Axelsen of Denmark. The Indian beat the sixth seeded Dane 21-15, 21-15 in 29 minutes.
Selected Results
Men’s singles (First Round)
Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) beat Zulfadli Zulkifli (Mas) 21-14, 21-8
Ajay Jayaram (Ind) beat Viktor Axelsen (Den) 21-15, 21-15
Lin Dan Dan (Chn) beat Riichi Taksehita (Jpn) 21-17, 21-17
Chen Long (Chn) beat Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (Tha) 21-10, 21-12
Kento Momota (Jpn) beat Angus Ng Ka Long (Hkg) 21=12, 21-15
Men’s doubles
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) beat Chan Jun-bong-Kim Dae-eun (Kor) 21-15, 21-13
Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) beat Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge (Eng) 21-16, 21-10
Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan (Ina) beat Puavaranukroh Dechapol-Kedren Kittinupon (Tha) 21-13, 21-16
Chai Biao-Hong Wei (Chn) beat Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Den) 21-19, 21-15
