PETALING JAYA: Professional mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing have started to find their feet again on the international stage by reaching the quarter-finals of the Indonesian Masters yesterday.
Kian Meng-Pei Jing, ranked No. 25, overcame teammates Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See 21-12, 21-16 in 41 minutes to make up for their back-to-back first round exits this year at the Malaysian and Indian Opens over the last two weeks.
Pei Jing said it was always complicated when playing teammates and close friends.
“It’s never easy playing our teammates as we know each other well and we are also quite close. So, we have mixed emotions after this win,” said Pei Jing.
“We know how they feel but we have to move on and focus on our next match.”
Kian Meng hoped to continue with the good show although standing in their way are world No. 1 Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China in the last eight today.
Siwei-Yaqiong had to labour for their 21-12, 16-21, 21-19 win over Commonwealth Games champions Terry Hee-Jessica Tan of Singapore in the second round. “We did not treat the match (Peng Soon-Yee See) as an easy game and our performance was better than the way we played in the first round. We will keep improving,” said Kian Meng.
The challenge of two other Malaysian pairs Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie ended in the second round.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei, the world No. 9, let slip a fine start by losing 21-12, 13-21, 14-21 to world No. 20 Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu of Indonesia, a pair whom they had beaten in their previous two matches in straight games.
“We are still struggling with our performance and have to find a way to make a comeback,” said Tang Jie.
Soon Huat-Shevon, ranked No. 14, found the going tough against world No. 7 Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun of South Korea and lost 10-21, 16-21 in just 33 minutes.
In the men’s doubles, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun could not break the resilience of former world No. 1 Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto of Indonesia and went down 18-21, 20-22 as well.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun had the chance to stretch the match to three games by leading 20-19 in the second but the experienced Fajar-Rian, currently ranked No. 7, shut the doors on the Malaysians with a 22-20 win
