PETALING JAYA: It was mixed fortunes for men’s singles shuttlers Justin Hoh and Jacky Kok in the first round of the Korean Masters.
Justin suffered an early exit after he went down 18-21, 17-21 to Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen while Jacky, who was dropped by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), moved into the second round after beating homester Do Dong-wook 21-12, 21-18 in Iksan City yesterday.
World No. 49 Justin found world No. 39 Kantaphon a tough nut to crack and lost out in 51 minutes despite his best efforts.
It was only the 20-year-old’s second defeat in the opening round of a tournament this year.
The only other time he failed to at least reach the second round was in the Hong Kong Open in September where he went down fighting in three games to Denmark’s world No. 29 Rasmus Gemke.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Jacky will take on Japanese fifth seed Takuma Obayashi in the second round today.
In the men’s doubles, independent pair Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong also reached the second round after a hard fought 17-21, 21-18, 21-19 victory over home pair Cho Song-hyun-Jin Sung-ik.
Malaysia Super 100 champions and world No. 47 Hang Yee-Eng Cheong have a tougher task next against Taiwanese second seeds Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan.
Jhe-huei-Po-hsuan defeated another Malaysian pair Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 15-21, 21-18, 21-15.
Reigning world junior champions Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing gave a good account of themselves against Indonesian fifth seeds Shohibul Fikri-Daniel Marthin before losing 20-22, 17-21.
National No. 1 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik meanwhile will play home qualifiers Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol in the second round today.
Malaysia’s challenge in the mixed doubles though is over after lone representatives Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien fell 14-21, 15-21 to homesters Lee Sang-won-Kim Bo-ryeong.
RESULTS (Malaysians Only)
First round
Men’s singles: Jacky Kok bt Do Dong-wook (Kor) 21-12, 21-18; Kantaphon Wangcharoen (Tha) bt Justin Hoh 21-18, 21-17.
Men’s doubles: Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong bt Cho Song-hyun-Jin Sung-ik (Kor) 17-21, 21-18, 21-19; Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan (Tpe) bt Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 15-21, 21-18, 21-15; Shohibul Fikri-Daniel Marthin (Ina) bt Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing 22-20, 21-17.
Mixed doubles: Lee Sang-won-Kim Bo-ryeong (Kor) bt Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien 21-14, 21-15.
