KUALA LUMPUR: Top seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie got their Swiss Open campaign off to a strong start by cruising into the second round on Wednesday (March 19).
The husband and wife duo needed just 28 minutes to dispatch Taiwan’s Cheng Zhi-ray-Yang Ching-tun 21-8, 21-18 at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel.
They will next face Thailand’s Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat, giving Soon Huat-Shevon a chance to avenge their defeat to the same pair at last year’s Thailand Open.
Meanwhile, Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien also progressed in style, brushing aside Macau’s world No. 81 duo, Leong Lok Chong-Ng Weng Chi, 21-14, 21-10.
Their next challenge will be a tough one as they take on fourth seeds Delphine Delrue-Thom Gicquel today.
Women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei also booked her place in the second round with an impressive display.
Despite making her first tournament appearance of the year, she showed no signs of rust, powering past Taiwan’s Pai Yu-po 21-18, 21-12 in just 34 minutes.
A stern test awaits Jin Wei in the next round as she faces Thailand’s second seed, Supanida Katethong.
However, it was heartbreak for men’s singles player Justin Hoh, whose campaign ended in the opening round.
After an impressive run in the qualifiers, he was unable to keep the momentum going and fell to Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21-7, 21-13 in just 31 minutes.
