DEBUTANTS Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo were grinning from ear to ear after checking into the third round of the women’s doubles in the World Championships.
Khe Wei-Vivian, seeded 14th, held their nerves to beat Japan’s Yuriko Miki-Koharu Yonemoto 22-20, 21-14 in 42 minutes to keep the Malaysian flag flying high at the Tianhe Gymnasium.
They will take on eighth seeds South Koreans Eom Hye-won-Jang Ye-na today and there’s fleeting hope of them becoming the first Malaysian women’s pair in eight years to make the last eight.
No Malaysian pair has made it to the quarter-finals since Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty did it in Anaheim in 2005.
National women's doubles coach Rosman Razak giving advice to Lim Yin Loo (left) and Goh Liu Ying during their match against South Korea's Jung Kyung-eun-Kim Ha-na. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star
“Things didn’t go all that well in the opening game. Fortunately, Khe Wei and I managed to hang on for the win. After that, we became more confident with our game plan,” said Vivian.
“We are a step away from the quarter-finals ... we hope to give another strong performance. We’ve beaten the Korean pair before ... but past records mean nothing. What matters is playing our hearts out,” said Khe Wei.
The Malaysians have beaten Hye-won-Ye-na three times in four meetings and will be seeking to extend their good run over the Koreans.
There was hearbreak for two other pairs – Ng Hui Lin-Ng Hui Ern and Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo – yesterday.
“Things didn’t go all that well in the opening game. Fortunately, Khe Wei and I managed to hang on for the win. After that, we became more confident with our game plan,” said Vivian.
“We are a step away from the quarter-finals ... we hope to give another strong performance. We’ve beaten the Korean pair before ... but past records mean nothing. What matters is playing our hearts out,” said Khe Wei.
The Malaysians have beaten Hye-won-Ye-na three times in four meetings and will be seeking to extend their good run over the Koreans.
There was hearbreak for two other pairs – Ng Hui Lin-Ng Hui Ern and Goh Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo – yesterday.
Malaysia's Ng Hui Lin (right) and Ng Hui Ern react after narrowly losing to South Korea's Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan.
Hui Lin-Hui Ern were on the brink of an upset win when they led 20-18 in the decider but they allowed 13th seeds Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan to claw their way back into the game and clinch a spot in the third round with a 21-13, 20-22, 25-23 win.
It was also all over for Liu Ying-Yin Loo, who lost 20-22, 7-21 to 11th seeds Jung Kyung-eun-Kim Ha-na.
Hui Lin-Hui Ern were on the brink of an upset win when they led 20-18 in the decider but they allowed 13th seeds Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan to claw their way back into the game and clinch a spot in the third round with a 21-13, 20-22, 25-23 win.
It was also all over for Liu Ying-Yin Loo, who lost 20-22, 7-21 to 11th seeds Jung Kyung-eun-Kim Ha-na.
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