Uncompromising: Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (left) and Yap Roy King fought brilliantly to come from behind to upstage Taiwan’s Lu Ching-yao-Yang Po-han.
PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi stole the show in the Thailand Open when they pulled off a stunning win over Taiwan’s world No. 21 Lu Ching-yao-Yang Po-han to reach the second round.
Roy King-Arif, who are currently ranked No. 64 in the world, fought brilliantly to come from behind to upstage their much higher ranked opponents 16-21, 21-13, 21-16 in 63 minutes in Bangkok yesterday.
It was the young pair’s biggest win since they were combined last year.
Roy King-Arif, who finished runners-up in the Spain Masters in Madrid in March, will next play Denmark’s world No. 34 Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard for a place in the last eight.
It was double joy for Roy King after he also made it into the second round of the mixed doubles with Valeree Siow.
The pair defeated Hong Kong duo Lui Chun Wai-Fu Chi Yan 21-19, 21-17 and will next go up against home favourites and 2021 world champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Meanwhile, Orleans Masters champions Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri are also safely through to the men’s doubles second round after a confident 21-16, 21-11 win over Scotland’s Christopher Grimley and Matthew Grimley.
Standing in Hon Jian-Haikal’s way to the quarter-finals are homesters Pharanyu Kaosamaang-Worrapol Thongsanga.
Hon Jian also combined well with Go Pei Kee in the mixed doubles to come out on top over home pair Neuaduang Mangkornloi-Atitaya Povanon 21-10, 21-15.
The pair have a tough task next though against Indonesia’s world No. 21 Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu.
In the men’s singles, world No. 37 Leong Jun Hao also did well to beat Taiwan’s world No. 30 Su Li-yang 14-21, 21-15, 21-17.
Jun Hao was relieved to survive his tricky opening test.
“It was a tough match for me and I had to stay patient in the rallies,” said Jun Hao in a post match interview with SPOTV.
“The draught is quite strong in the stadium and I needed time to adapt to the conditions. I’m happy to get the win in the end.”
Jun Hao though has an uphill battle next against homester and reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
World No. 10 Lee Zii Jia also booked his spot in the second round after ousting China’s world No. 33 Lei Lan Xi 21-17, 23-21.
Zii Jia will play South Korea’s world No. 43 Jeon Hyeok-jin next for a place in the last eight.
RESULTS
(Malaysians Only)
First round
Men’s singles: Leong Jun Hao bt Su Li-yang 14-21, 21-15, 21-17, Lee Zii Jia bt Lei Lanxi (Chn) 21-17, 23-21.
Men’s doubles: Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi bt Lu Ching-yao-Yang Po-han (Tpe) 16-21, 21-13, 21-16, Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri bt Christopher Grimley-Matthew Grimley (Sco) 21-16, 21-11; Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty (Ind) bt Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 21-13, 21-13; Pharanyu Kaosamaang-Worrapol Thongsanga (Tha) bt Chia Weijie-Liew Xun 21-19, 21-12; Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard (Den) bt Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe 22-20, 21-12.
Women’s singles: Supanida Katethong (Tha) bt K. Letshanaa 21-12, 21-10.
Mixed doubles: Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow bt Lui Chun Wai-Fu Chi Yan (Hkg) 21-19, 21-17; Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee bt Neuaduang Mangkornloi-Atitaya Povanon (Tha) 21-10, 21-15.
