KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles shuttlers Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing have vowed to not give compatriots Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei an easy ride in the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Masters today.
Both pairs are set to clash in an intriguing match and world No. 24 Kian Meng-Pei Jing, who will start as underdogs, are determined to give world No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei a run for their money.
The latter hold the advantage based on the head-to-head records as they have beaten the independent pair in both their past meetings in the French Open in March and Malaysian Open last year.
“We will not make it easy for Tang Jie-Ee Wei as we want to do well in this tournament just like them,” said Kian Meng.
“Both of us have different objectives as they are preparing for the Paris Olympics while we have not qualified and want to do well in our other tournaments including here.
“They should take this as a challenge for them ahead of the Olympics. If we give them an easy match, we are not respecting them.
“So, we will give our very best and try to give the fans a good show.”
Yesterday, Kian Meng-Pei Jing had to dig deep to beat South Korea’s Wang Chan-Shin Seung-chan 15-21, 21-19, 21-19 while Tang Jie-Ee Wei hardly broke sweat in their 21-9, 21-15 win over India’s B. Sumeeth Reddy-Sikki Reddy at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Pei Jing was not satisfied with her performance and credited Kian Meng for the win.
“Honestly, my performance was not good today (yesterday),” said Pei Jing.
“I’m trying to get back my momentum but I was still struggling.
“My partner, coach and the home crowd gave me the energy and encouragement to keep pushing until the end.
Meanwhile, there was further joy for Malaysia when another home pair, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie also made it into the quarter-finals.
Soon Huat-Shevon fought hard to come away with a 17-21, 21-19, 21-13 victory over Taiwan’s Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang.
The world No. 18 will play Indonesia’s world No. 21 Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu next.
It was the end of the road though for Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, who went down 10-21, 15-21 to second seeds Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje of Denmark.
