# Asian champion Jun Hao makes the main draw in men’s singles
Malaysia’s former number one mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying are one step away from reaching the the quarter-finals after clearing the first hurdle in the Thailand Masters Open which began in Bangkok on Tuesday.
The Malaysian pair, seeded fifth, who won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeated Hong Kong’s Chang Tak Ching-Ng Wing Yung in straight games 21-19, 21-15 in 29 minutes.
They next play Indonesia’s Yantoni Edy Saputra-Marsheilla Gischa Islami – 19-21, 21-18, 21-17 winners over Sweden’s Richard Eidestedt-Clara Nistad, promoted from the qualifying round. A win over the Indonesians will earn them a place in the quarter-finals.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying, with their sights sets on the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in April and the Asian Games in Indonesia in August, last played together in April last year before the Malacca-born Liu Ying went to Germany for surgery for a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Asian Junior champion Leong Jun Hao cleared two hurdles in the qualifying round to make the main draw in the men’s singles.
In the first round Jun Hao took three games to beat Thailand’s Kantawat Leelavechabutri 11-21, 21-18, 21-9 in 55 minutes. He later upset compatriot Soo Teck Zhi 21-18, 21-18 in 36 minutes to earn a first round match against Malaysian privateer Zulfadli Zulkifli, a former Asian and world junior champion who is seeded eighth in Bangkok.BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
RESULTS (SELECTED)
MIXED DOUBLES (FIRST ROUND)
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (Mas) beat Chang Tak Ching-Ng Wing Yung (Hkg) 21-19, 21-15
Yantoni Edy Saputra-Marsheilla Gischa Islami (Ina) beat Richard Eidestedt-Clara Nistad (Swe) 19-21, 21-18, 21-17
Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Puttita Supajirakul (Tha) beat Ho Wai Lun-Yuen Sin Ying (Hkg) 14-21, 21-11, 21-8
Akbar Bintang Cahyono-Winny Oktavina Kandow (Ina) beat Tam Chun Hei-Poon Lok Yan (Hkg) 21-18, 21-13
Tinn Isriyanet-Pacharapun Chochuwong (Tha) beat Komandani Maytri Sugiarto-Maretha Dea Giovani (Ina) 21-13, 21-11
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