PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing were the only Malaysian pair who got off to a winning start at the World Tour Finals in Bangkok on Wednesday (Dec 7).
Independent pair Kian Meng-Pei Jing, the World No. 8, defeated Olympic champions Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping of China 23-21, 14-21, 21-16 in a Group B match to stay in the hunt for a semi-final spot.
In Group A, another independent pair Goh Son Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie suffered a 21-12, 21-15 defeat to Rinov Rivaldi-Pitha Haningtyas of Indonesia.
Men’s doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik also had a disappointing start when they lost 21-12, 21-15 to Indonesian rivals Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan in a Group B match.
Professional pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also fell in their opening match as they were beaten 21-19, 21-16 by Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan in Group A.
Malaysia also did not fare well in the women’s doubles as French Open champions Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and independent pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien lost their opening group matches.
Pearly-Thinaah were beaten 23-21, 21-19 by Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti in Group B while Vivian-Chiew Sien lost 21-18, 21-13 to Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye Jeong of South Korea in Group A.
