Malaysia mixed double shuttler Hoo Pang Ron - Cheng Su Yin in action for the Malaysia Open 2025 at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles coach K. Yogendran defended the decision to field youngster Justin Hoh and mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin in the team’s 2-3 defeat to Hong Kong in the crucial Asia Mixed Team Championships Group B match.
Malaysia needed a win in their opening match to enhance their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals but both Justin and Pang Ron-Su Yin lost their respective matches along with women’s doubles duo Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee and led to the team going down narrowly at the Qingdao Conson Sports Center in China yesterday.
World No. 15 Pang Ron-Su Yin, who have had a difficult start to the year, were surprisingly selected ahead of the in-form world No. 4 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and the former gave Tang Chun Man-Ng Tsz Yau a good fight before running out of steam and going down 21-17, 17-21, 11-21 in 59 minutes.
Yogendran said that the mixed doubles was key for Malaysia but the Hong Kong pair were better on the day.
“After discussing with all the coaches, we decided to field Pang Ron-Su Yin (instead of Soon Huat-Shevon) due to their better head-to-head record against Hong Kong,” said Yogendran.
“It was always going to be a 50-50 match for us against Hong Kong and as predicted they selected all their top players for this match.
“We knew that the mixed doubles will be the deciding match.
“Chun Man used his greater experience to win this time.”
Chun Man only combined with Tsz Yau this year but was ranked as high as No. 8 with former partner Tse Ying Suet.
Chun Man also won two bronze medals in the World Championships in 2018 and 2021 with Ying Suet and a silver in the 2018 Asian Games.
Pang Ron-Su Yin though upstaged Chun Man-Ying Suet in both their meetings last year while Soon Huat-Shevon have mostly struggled against the Hong Kong duo and only won once in 12 encounters.
Soon Huat-Shevon also have only beaten Tsz Yau with her former partner Reginald Lee once in four previous matches while Pang Ron-Su Yin, who only combined at the end of 2023 have never played against the pair before.
Meanwhile, world No. 53 Justin Hoh, who was chosen to start ahead of world No. 28 Leong Jun Hao gave Lee Cheuk Yiu (No. 21) a scare in the first game before losing 19-21, 16-21.
On the match, Yogendran said: “Jun Hao has played Cheuk Yiu twice and lost both times.
“So, we hoped to spring a surprise by fielding Justin instead.
“Justin played very well in the first game but he could not maintain his performance in the second game. Cheuk Yiu is the more experienced player and managed the game better.”
In the doubles, world No. 48 Mei Xing-Pei Kee lost out 17-21, 14-21 to world No. 13 Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam while men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun gave Malaysia something to cheer by beating Hung Kuei Chun-Lui Chun Wai 21-13, 21-11.
There was also positives in the women’s singles when K. Letshanaa did well to come away with a 21-18, 21-18 win over Saloni Samirbhai.
Malaysia next need to beat Indonesia today to keep their hopes of reaching the last eight alive.
The Indonesians have the advantage in the group after sweeping aside an understrength Hong Kong side 5-0 on Tuesday.
