PETALING JAYA: National mixed doubles shuttlers Choong Hon Jian and Peck Yen Wei were relieved to clear the opening hurdle in their new partnership but know they face a tougher examination today in the first round of the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta.
Hon Jian-Yen Wei edged William Villeger-Anne Tran of France 22-20, 21-18 in the qualifying round at the Istora Senayan.
Yen Wei praised her partner’s performance but admitted that there was room for improvement.
“This is our first match together as a pair and we are grateful that we managed to win and enter the main draw. Hon Jian played very well today. But we need to improve on a lot of things to make our partnership stronger,” said Yen Wei.
She and Hon Jian face a tough task against Denmark’s world No. 15 Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje for a place in the second round.
“It’s quite a tough match for sure but we have nothing to lose actually against the Danish pair. In court, the most important thing is mentality. We need to be confident in ourselves as nothing is impossible,” said Yen Wei.
Meanwhile, there was contrasting fortunes in the first round of the women’s doubles, when independent pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien faced little trouble in overcoming Denmark’s unheralded Julie Finne-Ipsen-Mai Surrow 21-17, 21-7 while Anna Cheong-Teoh Mei Xing crashed out after losing to Korea’s Baek Ha-na-Lee Yu-lim 14-21, 13-21.
Vivian-Chiew Sien will likely face home pair and Hanoi SEA Games champions Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti in the second round.
RESULTS
First qualifying round
(Malaysians only)
Men’s singles: Soong Joo Ven bt Kartikey Kumar (Ind) 21-16, 9-21, 21-14.
Men’s doubles: Tan Wee Kiong-Tan Kian Meng bt Berry Angriawan-Rian Saputro 21-10, 21-11; Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn) bt Mohd Haikal Nazri-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi 21-15, 21-16.
Mixed doubles: Choong Hon Jian-Peck Yen Wei bt William Villeger-Anne Tran (Fra) 22-20, 21-18.
Second qualifying round
Men’s singles: Soong Joo Ven bt Ade Dwicahyo (Azb) 21-15, 21-11.
First round
Men’s doubles: Terry Hee-Loh Kean Hean (Sin) bt Nur Azriyn Ayub-Lim Khim Wah 14-21, 21-15, 21-17.
Women’s doubles: Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien bt Julie Finne-Ipsen-Mai Surrow (Den) 21-17, 21-7; Baek Ha-na-Lee Yu-lim (Kor) bt Anna Cheong-Teoh Mei Xing 21-14, 21-13.
