Superb start: Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri celebrate after winning first round match at the Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: After enduring nine months of early exits, men’s doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri now have a golden opportunity to break their jinx when they face Japan’s Tori Aizawa-Daisuke Sano in the second round of the Macau Open today.
Hon Jian-Haikal got off to a strong start in Macau by defeating Singapore’s Wesley Koh-Junsuke Kubo 21-15, 21-14 in the opening round.
Although it will be their first meeting, Hon Jian-Haikal hold a slight psychological edge on paper as they are ranked higher at world No. 52, compared to the Japanese pair’s No. 90.
It has been a tough season for Hon Jian-Haikal, who made headlines last year by winning the Orleans Masters.
Since returning from injury, the duo have struggled to regain their rhythm and confidence. Their last notable run came at the Malaysia Super 100 in Kuala Lumpur last October. Since then, they have consistently fallen in either the first or second round of tournaments.
Also bidding for a place in the quarter-finals are Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who will take on India’s Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy-Sai Pratheek.
Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong will face Indonesia’s Putra Erwiansyah-Daniel Marvino, while Chia Weijie-Lwi Sheng Hao, fresh from their upset over seventh seeds Takumi Nomura-Yuichi Shimogami, will meet Hong Kong’s Hung Kuie Chun-Lui Chun Wai.
Women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei is also in a race to reach the quarter-finals. Despite slipping to No. 47 in the world rankings, the determined Jin Wei stayed on course with a commanding 21-14, 21-12 win over Denmark’s Amalie Schulz yesterday.
A tough challenge awaits, though, as she will face top seed and reigning Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China in the next round.
Meanwhile, it was another early exit for compatriot K. Letshanaa, who went down fighting 13-21, 22-20, 21-19 to Hong Kong’s Happy Lo.
In the men’s singles, national shuttler Justin Hoh will carry Malaysia’s hopes when he faces seventh seed Ayush Shetty of India in the second round.
Justin got off to a solid start after brushing aside Sathish Karunakaran 21-19, 21-12 in the opening round yesterday.
Unfortunately, compatriot Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin failed to progress after falling 20-22, 7-21 to Canada’s Brian Yang.
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