MIXED doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie are hoping to do something they have never done before – beat China’s world No. 1 Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong.
The pairs are set to clash in the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Masters today.
Independent pair and world No. 15 Soon Huat-Shevon have played six times against the Chinese pair and have not won once.
“We have beaten a few pairs in the top 10 but not Siwei-Yaqiong. We will try to do this tomorrow (today). It will be tough as they are so fast and powerful. So, we need to prepare well,” said Shevon.
She and Soon Huat ousted Indonesia’s Hafiz Faizal-Serena Kani 21-15, 22-20 in the second round yesterday.
Siwei-Yaqiong, meanwhile are currently in formidable form and have won five titles in a row including the Malaysian Open last week.
Yesterday they beat Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See 21-11, 21-13.
Two other pairs also crashed out, leaving Soon Huat-Shevon as the only representative in mixed doubles.
Hoo Pang Ron-Toh Ee Wei lost to reigning Olympic champions Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping of China 16-21, 16-21 while Chen Tang Jie-Valeree Siow’s good run also came to an end when they went down 10-21, 12-21 to Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh-Supissara Paewsampran.
In the men’s doubles, national No. 1 pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are through to the quarter-finals after edging Korean veterans Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang 21-18, 21-18.
Young pair Mohd Haikal Nazrin-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi also joined them in the next round after beating their seniors Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-18, 21-14.
Aaron-Wooi Yik will play Taiwan’s Chang Ko-chi-Po Li-wei next while Haikal-Arif will face Indonesia’s world No. 5 Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto.
In the men’s singles, Ng Tze Yong gave a good account of himself before bowing out 18-21, 16-21 in 51 minutes to Taiwan’s world No. 4 Chou Tien-chen.
