PETALING JAYA: The hunger after missing three European tournaments showed as doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah marched confidently into the quarter-finals of the Japan Masters.
The duo, who had to skip the tournaments in Denmark, France and Finland due to Pearly’s back injury, defeated Rui Hirokami-Yuna Kato of Japan 21-17, 21-16 at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium yesterday to set up a meeting with another Japanese pair Rena Miyaura-Ayako Sakuramoto next.
In the first round, they had beaten Lee Yu-lim-Shin Seung-chan of South Korea in three hard-fought games.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky gave credit to the duo’s determination to shine in Japan.
“They have been having a good run so far. They came through a tough battle against the Koreans and today, they won in two games against the Japanese pair but they were not easy games,” said Rexy.
“They have another Japanese in their way but I can see extra motivation in their game after missing the three European tournaments.
“I hope they can keep this positive feeling and pray for a injury-free run.”
Professional doubles players Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi are also through to the quarter-finals of but it was the end of the road for former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
World No. 11 Yew Sin-Ee Yi went the distance to beat qualifiers Pharanyu Kaosamaang-Worrapol Thongsanga of Thailand 14-21, 21-15, 21-15 in the second round and will face Taiwan’s Fang Chih-lee-Fang Jen-lee.
Rexy wished Aaron-Wooi Yik had also made the quarters but admitted they played below par. The duo went down 18-21, 16-21 to Japan’s Akira Koga-Taichi Saito in the second round and it was their third defeat in six meetings against the Japanese duo.
“Aaron and Wooi Yik did not play their best, they were slower. Their attacks from the back were soft and lacked aggression,” said Rexy.
“Wooi Yik was out of the rhythm initially and Aaron also could not cover for him. They had too much of a gap to close and could not catch up. Instead of pressuring their opponents, they were pressured.”
In the men’s singles, Tze Yong gave a good performance before going down 22-20, 11-21, 18-21 to top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.
World No. 1 Axelsen’s compatriots Anders Antonsen and Rasmus Gemke experienced different fortunes.
Antonsen played brilliantly to beat Kodai Naraoka of Japan 23-21, 21-17 but Gemke went down fighting 19-21, 22-20, 16-21 to a resurgent Kento Momota of Japan.
Korean Masters champion Momota will face Shi Yuqi of China next while Axelsen and Antonsen will be meeting Jonatan Christie of Indonesia and qualifier Takuma Obayashi of Japan in the quarter-finals today.
