PETALING JAYA: National men's singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao's hopes of building momentum for next week's All-England suffered an early setback after he was knocked out in the first round of the German Open.
The world No. 27 Jun Hao lost 18-21, 21-5, 20-22 to world No. 20 Chi Yu-jen of Taiwan on Wednesday (Feb 25) at the Westenergie Sporthalle in Mulheim.
It was also the end of the road for Justin Hoh as he fell 17-21, 21-12, 8-21 to world No. 25 Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong.
There was joy in the men's doubles when Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi cleared the fiirst round to set up meeting against compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the second.
World No. 33 Yew Sin-Ee Yi defeated Donovan Wee-Howin Wong of Singapore 21-15, 21-14 while Sze Fei-Izzuddin ousted France’s Mael Cattoen-Lucas Renoir 21-17, 21-19.
In the mixed doubles, fifth seeds and 2018 German Open winners Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie also progressed by brushing aside Brian Wassink-Debora Jille of Holland 21-15, 21-8 in just 26 minutes.
They will face Sweden’s Filip Karlborg-Tilda Sjoo for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing will join Soon Huat-Shevon in the second round after they defeated Denmark’s Kristoffer Kolding-Mette Wege 16-21, 21-17, 21-17 in 55 minutes to set up a meeting against Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh-Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn.
It was mixed fortunes in the women's singles as Wong Ling Ching did well to survive the opening round but K. Letshanaa's challenge ended.
Ling Ching defeated India’s Tanvi Sharma 21-19, 17-21, 21-16 in 56 minutes and will play Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand next.
Letshanaa went down 9-21, 21-15, 11-21 to fourth seed Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan.
