# Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair clear the first hurdle
# Zulfadli flops in round one in men’s singles
By Rizal Abdullah
Go V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong overcame a tough first set but cruised in the second to advance to the second round in the men’s doubles in the USD350,000 Singapore Open Superseries at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.
The Malaysians defeated Peter Gabriel Magnaye-Alvin Moranda of the Philippines 23-21, 21-5 in 27 minutes.
However, it was the end of Zulfadli Zulkifli in the men’s singles. Zulfadli, a former world and asian junior champion, was beaten 14-21, 16-21 by Indonesia’s rising star Christie Jonatan in 31 minutes. Christie was a beaten semi-finalist in last week’s Malaysia Open Superseries Premier.Â
World No 1 and top seed Chen Long of China was made to struggle for 71 minutes by India’s H.S. Prannoy before winning his opening round match in the USD350,000 Singapore Open at the Singapore Inddor Stadium on Wednesday.
The Chinese ace came back from a set dwon to defeat the gritty Indian 18-21, 21-18, 21-19 to earn a second round match against Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana. Boonsak beat Taiwan’s Lin Yu Hsien 22-20, 21-15 in his first round match.
Lin Dan, seeded No 2, had a much easier match when he packed off Indonesian youngster Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 21-16, 21-19 in 49 minutes. The five world champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist is competing in Singapore for the first time since 2011.
“This is for the first time for quite sometime I was playing such an early match. I made lot of mistakes and nearly lost,” said Chen Long who was beaten by Malaysia’s datuk Lee Chong Wei in the Malaysian Open final on Sudany. Chen Long was the defending champion.
Korean veteran Son Wan-ho defeated Thai veteran Tanongsak Saengsomboonsuk 24-22, 21-17 in 46 minutes while fifth seed Jan O Jorgsensen suffered a shock 16-21, 20-22 defeat to Japan’s hardy man Sho Sasaki in a 41 minute battle. Jorgensen was a semi-finalist in the Malaysia Open where he lost to Chong Wei.
In another first round match Korea’s Lee Dong Keun cleared his first hurdle with a 21-13, 23-21 win over Hong Kong veteran Hu Yun. Denmark’s fourth seed Viktor Axelsen was a 21-13, 21-11 winner over Wei Nan of Hong Kong.
Malaysia’s No 1 men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong overcame a tough first set to defeat Pater Gabriel Magnaye – Alvin Moranda of the Philippines 23-21, 21-5 in only 27 minutes and give themselves a boost for the Olympic ticket.
The Singapore Open Superseries is the last superseries tournament to gain Olympic points.
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FIRST ROUND RESULTS (Selected)
Men’s singles
Chen Long (Chn) beat H.S. Prannoy (Ind) 18-21, 21-18, 21-19
Lin Dan (Chn) beat Ihsan Maulan Mustofa (Ina) 21-16, 21-19
San Wan-ho (Kor) beat Tanongsak Saengsomboonsuk (Tha) 24-22, 21-17
Sho Sasaki (Jpn) beat Jan O Jorgsensen (Den) 21-16, 22-20
Viktor Axelsen (Den) Wei Nan (Den) 21-13, 21-11
Lee Deung Keun (Kor) Hu Yun (Hkg) 21-13, 23-21
Christie Jonatan (Ina) beat Zulfadli Zulkifli (Mas) 21-14, 21-16
Boonsak Ponsana (Tha) beat Lin Yu Hsien (Tpe) 22-20, 21-15
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Men’s doubles
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) beat Peter Gabriel Magnaye-Alvin Morada (Phi) 23-21, 21-15
