Good day for Malaysian doubles shuttlers in Rio too

Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei are not expected to go far at the Asian Games

RIO DE JANEIRO: It is a good day for Malaysian doubles shuttlers on the opening day of the badminton competition in Rio.

Top women shuttlers Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei kept their composure to beat Heather Olver-Lauren Smith of England with a 21-17, 24-22 win in their Group C opening match at the Riocentro Pavilion 4 on Thursday.

It was their fifth win over the English pair. 

The duo have a tricky match against Hong Kong's Poon Lok Yan-Tse Ying Suet next. They have lost to the pair in the last two meetings at the 2012 All-England and 2015 Bitburger Open. 

Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong lived up to their status as the country’s top men pair by beating Michael Fuchs-Johannes Schoettler of Germany 21-14, 21-17 in their first Group B match. They should win their next match against Phillip Chew-Sattawat Pongnairat of United States.

There was also joy in the mixed doubles too when Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying cleared their opening Group C match by beating Thailand’s Bodin Isara-Savitree Amitrapai 21-13, 21-19. They will take on Robin Middleton-Leanne Choo of Australia next.

 

(More report to follow)