PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien are eyeing more breakthroughs after reaching the quarter-finals in the World Tour for the first time this year.
Tien Ci-Chiew Sien pulled off an impressive 9-21, 21-15, 21-17 win over home favourites Lee Jong-min-Chae Yu-jung in the Korean Open second round at the Suwon Gymnasium yesterday.
It was a commendable victory for the independent pair as Yu-jung has a strong reputation after capturing the world title with former partner Seo Seung-jae in 2023.
Tien Ci-Chiew Sien, who are currently ranked No. 35 in the world, started slowly but showed great fighting spirit and determination to overcome the loss in the first game to claim the win and silence the home fans.
The duo have made it into the last eight in a World Tour Super 500 tournament for the first time.
Chiew Sien was elated.
“We are very happy. This is considered a small breakthrough for us. We stuck to our game plan and it worked well for us,” said Chiew Sien.
“But the job is not done yet. Hopefully, we can continue the momentum and keep getting more breakthroughs in our careers.”
Tien Ci-Chiew Sien, though, have a tough task next against Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje of Denmark, who won the Macau Open and Indonesian Masters.
Meanwhile, another mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie also made it into the quarter-finals after beating China’s Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying 21-16, 21-13 to set up a match against world No. 1 Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin of China.
Malaysia’s challenge, though, ended in the men’s doubles after Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian went down 17-21, 11-21 to Japan’s 2021 world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.
RESULTS
(Malaysians only)
Second round
Men’s singles: Anders Antonsen (Den) bt Justin Hoh 21-17, 21-11.
Men’s doubles: Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi (Jpn) bt Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian 21-17, 21-11.
Mixed doubles: Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien bt Lee Jong-min-Chae Yu-jung (Kor) 9-21, 21-15, 21-17; Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying (Chn) 21-16, 21-13.
First round
Men’s doubles: Jin Yong-Na Sung-seung (Kor) bt Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi 21-18, 21-16.
