PETALING JAYA: Indonesia’s new women’s doubles combination could pose a serious threat to Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in the second round of the Hong Kong Open today.
The World Championships runners-up Pearly-Thinaah will take on Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji-Meilysa Trias, who have already known their potential as a fresh pairing.
Febriana and Meilysa, who are playing in their first tournament as a pair showed their capabilities when they stunned China’s Olympic champion Chen Qingchen and her new partner Keng Shuliang 21-15, 21-23, 21-16 in the first round at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Kowloon on Tuesday.
Febriana is ranked No. 10 in the world with her former partner Amallia Cahaya while Meilysa is No. 25 with Rachel Allessya.
World No. 2 Pearly-Thinaah, who booked their own spot in the second round after easily beating home pair Chu Wing Chi-Yu Yi Kiu 21-9, 21-9, are bracing themselves for a tougher challenge against Febriana-Meilysa.
The Indonesians said they were eyeing another upset after denying Qingchen and Shuliang.
“We are very excited as we have just combined and we are thankful that we managed to win in the first round,” said Febriana in an interview posted in the Indonesian National Badminton Association (PBSI) website.
“We were not intimidated by the Chinese pair and we could bring out our own game.
‘‘Next, we want to play our very best in the second round.”
Febriana is also coming off a good campaign in the World Championships in Paris, reaching the quarter-finals with Amallia.
The duo notably toppled South Korea’s world No. 7 Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee in straight games in the third round.
Pearly-Thinaah though will be out to continue their great form after capturing a historic silver in the world meet.
The pair are also out to defend their title after sensationally beating China’s world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning in the final last year.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian representative, world No. 20 Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee will face Taiwan’s world No. 23 Hsu Ya-ching-Sung Yu-hsuan for a place in the last eight.
Mei Xing-Pei Kee battled hard to overcome homesters Fan Ka Yan-Yau Mau Ying 21-15, 17-21, 21-12 in their opening match.
