PETALING JAYA: World mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie–Toh Ee Wei can consider themselves fortunate after receiving an easier path in the Asian Championships following the last-minute withdrawal of their rivals and one of the home favourites Jiang Zhenbang–Wei Yaxin.
The second seeds were expected to cross swords with Tang Jie–Ee Wei in the semi-finals barring any upsets, making their withdrawal a significant relief for the Malaysians.
Yaxin is reportedly nursing an injury, forcing the 2023 champions out and opening up the draw for Tang Jie–Ee Wei in their bid for a podium finish.
Originally scheduled to face Cheng Xing–Zhang Chi yesterday, Tang Jie–Ee Wei instead took the place of the withdrawn pair following a reshuffle.
They seized the opportunity, comfortably defeating the world No. 138 from Japan, Haruki Kawabe–Kokona Ishikawa 21–10, 21–19 in the first round at the Ningbo Olympic Center yesterday.
They will now have a day off before facing either Thailand’s Phuwanat Horbanluekit–Benyapa Aimsaard or India’s Dhruv Kapila–Tanisha Crasto.
The redraw also means they avoid a potential quarter-final clash with defending champions Tang Chun Man–Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong.
Another Malaysian pair, husband-and-wife duo Goh Soon Huat–Shevon Lai Jemie, also advanced comfortably after defeating India’s Rohan Kapoor–Ruthvika Gadde 21–13, 21–19.
The eighth seeds will next take on either Bangladesh’s Jumar Al-Amin–Urmi Akter or Taiwan’s Chen Cheng-kuan–Hsu Yin-hui.
Independent pair Wong Tien Ci–Lim Chiew Sien also progressed, beating Ashith Surya–Amrutha Pramuthesh of India 21–16, 21–15 in just 31 minutes.
They will face a tougher test next against either China’s Guo Xinwa–Chen Fang Hui or Taiwan’s Wu Guan-xun–Lee Chia-hsin.
Meanwhile, women’s doubles pair Low Zi Yu–Noraqilah Maisarah enjoyed a strong debut, advancing to the main draw after topping Group D in the qualifiers.
They opened with a convincing win over Macau’s Ng Weng Chi–Pui Chi Wa 21–11, 21–10, before defeating Thailand’s Phattarin Aiamvareesrisakul–Sarisa Janpeng 21–9, 21–13.
However, Zi Yu–Noraqilah will face a tough task in the first round against the tournament’s seventh seeds, Hsieh Pei-Shan–Hung En-Tzu from Taiwan.
RESULTS
(Malaysians only)
First round
Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Haruki Kawabe-Kokona Ishikawa (Jpn) 21-10, 21-10; Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Gadde (Ind) 21-13, 21-19; Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien bt Ashith Surya-Amrutha Pramuthesh (Ind) 21-16, 21-15.
Qualifying
Women’s doubles
Group D: Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan bt Ng Weng Chi-Pui Chi Wa (Mac), 21-11, 21-10; Zi Yu-Noraqilah bt Phattarin Aiamvareesrisakul-Sarisa Janpeng (Tha) 21-9, 21-13.
