PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See’s hope for a successful reunion has been painfully dashed.
Playing again in their first tournament after five years, they failed to advance to the quarter-finals in the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta after Peng Soon came down with food poisoning.
It had started well for them on Wednesday when they beat Peng Soon’s former partner Goh Liu Ying and Soong Joo Ven 21-17, 21-10 in the first round.
But their good fortune did not last when they were forced to retire in the next second round against South Korea’s world No. 6 Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung yesterday.
“Peng Soon had food poisoning and had to concede a walkover,” confirmed national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky.
Their withdrawal meant that Malaysia will not have a representative in the quarter-finals.
Earlier yesterday, Yee See’s former partner Hoo Pang Ron fought hard with Toh Ee Wei but fell short against world No. 7 Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet, losing 22-20, 5-21, 15-21 in 51 minutes.
Ee Wei admitted that the Hong Kong pair’s experience turned the match in their opponents’ favour in the end.
“They have been playing together for a long time and it shows in their game. Pang Ron and I have to improve on many aspects as we have just been together and only had a week of training,” said Ee Wei.
“Overall, we can’t say we are satisfied but we do see some potential in our partnership,” added the 21-year-old.
Pang Ron and Ee Wei will now turn their attentions to the Indonesian Open from June 14-19.
