PETALING JAYA: Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing are the last Malaysian pair standing in the mixed doubles at the Japan Masters after three others crashed out in the opening round.
Pang Ron-Pei Jing had little trouble beating Canada's Jonathan Lai-Crystal Lai 21-14, 21-14 at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium on Wednesday (Nov 11).
However, their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals will face a stern test when they take on China's top seeds Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin in the second round.
Eighth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie came agonisingly close to advancing but fell 19-21, 23-21, 21-23 to China's Zhu Yijun-Li Qian in a closely fought three-game battle.
Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin also bowed out after losing 8-21, 21-23 to China's Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui, while Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse went down 15-21, 10-21 to Japan's Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara.
It was also the end of the road for Malaysia in the women's singles after both K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching failed to clear the opening round.
Ling Ching lost 21-17, 4-21, 13-21 to Thailand's sixth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong, while Letshanaa went down 18-21, 21-18, 12-21 to Japan's Natsuki Nidaira.
In the men's doubles, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun kept Malaysia's hopes alive after defeating Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-18, 21-23, 21-13.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun will next take on Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard for a place in the quarter-finals.
However, Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi, who had made it through the qualifying rounds, could not follow suit after losing 21-19, 14-21, 10-21 to China's He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu.
