PETALING JAYA: Fazriq Razif’s hopes of winning a medal in the World Junior Championships went up in smoke when he and partner Wong Vin Sean suffered a second-round exit in the doubles in Santander.
The pair, who were seeded 16th in the competition, went down 19-21, 14-21 to last month’s Malaysian Junior International Series champions Koya Iwano-Shunya Ota of Japan on Tuesday.
It was a heartbreaking end for Fazriq and Vin Sean in their first and last World Junior meet.
The defeat also capped a frustrating outing for the duo, who had been hoping for better fortunes after being part of the team that suffered a group stage exit in the mixed team event.
The team had gone on to finish ninth after beating Denmark 4-1 in the ninth-16th placing playoff but it was no joy for Fazriq-Vin Sean, who conceded the solitary point after losing 15-21, 21-13, 18-21 to Jakob Houe-Christian Kjaer.
Malaysia’s hopes of a medal in the boys’ doubles now hinges on another pair, Choi Jian Sheng-Bryan Jeremy Goonting.
The pair booked their spot in the third round after beating Czech Republic’s Daniel Dvorak-Adam Sulc 21-10, 21-9.
Jian Sheng-Bryan will play Singapore’s Olivier Foo-Noor Safin for a place in the fourth round.
Meanwhile, in girls’ singles, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman overcame compatriot Siti Zulaikha Azmi 21-15, 24-22 in the second round.
The reigning Malaysia Games (Sukma) champion faces a tough test next against Thailand’s ninth seed Pitchamon Opatniputh.
