PETALING JAYA: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah's hopes for a good run at the Japan Open were dashed after they suffered a shock first round defeat on Tuesday (July 14).
Pearly-Thinaah, who finished runners-up last year, made a strong start against Taiwan's Hsu Yin-hui-Lin Jhih-yun but could not build on their opening game win and lost 21-9, 17-21, 17-21 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
It was Pearly-Thinaah first defeat to the world No. 12 pair in four meetings, having won their previous three encounters, including at the Asian Championships in Ningbo in April.
Women's singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching also bowed out after losing 14-21, 11-21 to India's P.V. Sindhu.
In the mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie's debut with new partner Clarissa San ended in defeat as they lost 15-21, 19-21 to Taiwan's Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang.
Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien also went down 13-21, 18-21 to China's Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui.
Men's doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King suffered a similar fate, losing 14-21, 21-15, 18-21 to the United States' Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith.
Leong Jun Hao was the only Malaysian to make it through to the second round after beating Taiwan's Chi Yu-jen 21-19, 21-16.
