KUALA LUMPUR: National mixed doubles, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing are beginning to prove that their impressive run at the Malaysia Open last week was no fluke, when they reached the second round of the Singapore Open earlier today (Wednesday).
And the former national No 1 pair did so in sublime fashion, when they once again upset world No 3 pair, Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino of Japan, 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 in the first round.
Just last week, the Malaysian duo upstaged the same Japanese pair in the first round of the Malaysia Open, sparking a revival to their combination after suffering a dip in form last year.
For the record, Kian Meng-Pei Jing, retained their perfect head to head record over Watanabe-Higashino, with the Malaysians now 3-0 up.
Kian Meng-Pei Jing, who moved up 12 rungs to No 26 in the latest World rankings following their semi-final feat in Kuala Lumpur, will play another Japanese pair, Kohei Gondo-Ayane Kurihara, tomorrow (Thursday) for a place in the quarter-finals.
“We’re so happy we got to do it again and get the better of the Japanese pair. This time round they were so much more tougher to beat,” said Pei Jing.
“But we wanted this win badly and we managed to prevail.
“However, we don’t want to get too excited. Every match is important and we want to make sure that we are able to repeat what we did in the Malaysia Open,” added Pei Jing.
Also reaching the second round were national No 1 pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, who had to withdraw in the quarter-finals last week, after the former fell ill, and 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallists, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.
Soon Huat-Shevon, saw off Indonesia’s Alfian Eko Prasetya-Marsheilla Gischa Islami, 21-18, 21-16, while Peng Soon-Liu Ying defeated Singapore’s Terry Hee-Crystal Wong 21-18, 22-20.
Soon Huat-Shevon will play Japan’s Yuki Kaneko-Misaki Matsutomo next, while Peng Soon-Liu Ying face Taiwan’s Lu Ching Yao-Lee Chia Hsin.
Other Malaysians to clear the first round earlier today (Wednesday) include national men’s singles shuttler, Lee Zii Jia and independent men’s doubles Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen.