Good start: Malaysia’s women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah march on to the next round in the Japan Masters. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Women doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah returned in style to clear the first round of the Japan Masters in Kumamoto on Tuesday.
The world No. 13 Pearly-Thinaah went the distance to beat Lee Yu-lim-Shin Seung-chan of South Korea 21-14, 20-22, 21-18 to set up a meeting against Rui Hirokami-Yuna Kato of Japan next.
Said Thinaah: "Feels good to be back on court but not too happy with our performance, we will be better in the next match."
The duo, who last competed at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, had skipped all the tournaments in Europe last month to give time for Pearly to heal from her back problem.
It was over for Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien as they went down 17-21, 11-21 to Japan's Rina Miyaura-Ayako Sakuramoto in the first round.
In an all-Malaysian men's doubles opening match, seniors Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi defeated Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-16, 21-7 to get off to a blistering start. They will play the winners of the match between Chen Boyang-Liu Yi of China and Thailand's Pharanyu-Kaosamaang-Worrapol Thongsa-nga next.
In the men's singles, Leong Jun Hao failed to clear the qualifying tournament after losing to Takuma Obayashi of Japan 23-21, 21-16 in the second round. Earlier, in the first round, he had beaten Takeru Kai of Australia 21-7, 21-3.
