BAM discards march on in Taiwan

PETALING JAYA: Professional shuttlers Mak Hee Chun-Chow Pak Chuu were the only Malaysians left after the second round of the Taiwan Open in Taipei City.

The world No. 109 pair were in sizzling form, strolling to a 21-19, 21-12 win over world No.32 Wahyu Nayaka Arya Pankaryanira-Ade Yusuf of Indonesia 21-19, 21-12.

Hee Chun-Pak Chuu, who started playing together in March, will take on Japanese Hiroyuki Saeki-Ryota Taohata in today’s quarter-finals.

Saeki-Taohata, the world No. 81, were too strong for Malaysian qualifiers Tai An Khang-Woon Mun Choon, winning 21-16, 21-12 in just 29 minutes.

Back-up shuttlers Chooi Kah Ming-Teo Ee Yi also crashed out after losing 19-21, 14-21 to China’s Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen.

In the men’s singles, Goh Soon Huat failed to stop resurgent five-time world champion Lin Dan. The Chinese superstar, already a three-time winner on the Tour, won 21-16, 21-16 to set up a last-eight showdown with Hong Kong’s Tam Chun Hei.

Tan Chun Seang, the other Malaysian representative, put up a good fight before losing 19-21, 21-19, 12-21 to Japan’s Riichi Takeshita.

In the women’s doubles, Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho also bit the dust after losing 22-24, 19-21 to fifth seeds Tang Yuanting-Huang Yaqiong of China.