PETALING JAYA: Can Malaysia’s remaining shuttlers turn things around at the Japan Masters after several of the country’s top hopes suffered early exits in Kumamoto yesterday?
Malaysia suffered their biggest setback in the women’s doubles when defending champions Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah crashed out in the opening round against Japan’s Chiharu Shida, who is now partnering Ririna Hiramoto.
Shida had often proved a stumbling block for Pearly-Thinaah when she partnered Nami Matsuyama, and the Malaysians found themselves on the losing end once again as they went down 18-21, 21-13, 21-14 at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.
The defeat of the second-seeded Pearly-Thinaah also brought Malaysia’s challenge in the women’s doubles to an early end.
It was a similar story in the men’s singles as independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia failed to make it past the qualifying round after losing 15-21, 10-21 to Japan’s Minoru Koga.
His defeat also meant Malaysia would have no representatives in the men’s singles main draw after Leong Jun Hao withdrew from the tournament, while Justin Hoh and Eogene Ewe were sent to compete at the Kaohsiung Masters in Taiwan instead.
Malaysia’s troubles continued in the men’s doubles when Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik were forced to retire from their opening-round match against India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan-M. R. Arjun after Wooi Yik suffered another injury setback.
The injury comes at a crucial time for Aaron-Wooi Yik, with their place in next month’s World Tour Finals in Hangzhou still far from secure.
Despite the setbacks, Malaysia are already assured of at least one quarter-final spot in the men’s doubles after Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani set up an all-Malaysian second-round clash tomorrow.
Tai-Roy King booked their place in the second round with a convincing 21-8, 21-14 win over Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi, while Sze Fei-Izzuddin defeated Denmark’s Christian Kjaer-Rasmus Kjaer 21-15, 21-16 yesterday.
Meanwhile, four Malaysian mixed doubles pairs will begin their campaigns today, with Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing facing Canada’s Jonathan Lai-Crystal Lai and Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse taking on Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara.
Eighth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie will face China’s Zhu Yijun-Li Qian, while Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin have a tougher task against third seeds Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui, also of China.
In the women’s singles, Wong Ling Ching will take on Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, while K. Letshanaa faces Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira.
