KUALA LUMPUR: Women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah made a smashing debut in the Japan Open when they stunned world No 2 Shin Sheung Chan-Lee So Hee of South Korea in the first round today.
World No 11 Pearly-Thinaah outlasted Sheung Chan-So Hee, who won silver at last year's World Championships, 16-21, 21-14, 21-18 at the Maruzen Intec Arena in Osaka.
It was a great response from Pearly-Thinaah following their last-16 exit from the World Championships in Tokyo last week.
The win against Sheung Chan-So Hee was their second major upset over a top-five pair, having defeated world No 4 Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota of Japan twice this year.
Pearly said the big win proves that their game is trending in the right direction.
"We grow in confidence after each win, just as much as every defeat gained us invaluable experience," said Pearly, who made it to three World Tour semi-finals with Thinaah this season.
"I think the key to our rise is our ability to strive for excellence.
"We know that consistency remains our main weakness, so we hope we can improve this from one tournament to another."
Pearly-Thinaah will face another Korean pair, Baek Ha Na-Lee Yu Lim, for a place in the last eight.
Compatriots Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien defeated Germany's Linda Efler-Isabel Lohau 21-17, 23-21.
They will likely face world champions Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan next.
In men's doubles, Nur Izzuddin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were shown the door by Indonesian rivals.
However, world No 27 Wei Chong-Kai Wun showed their fighting qualities in the 23-21, 21-19 defeat to Indonesia's world No 1 Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo.
Meanwhile, world No 12 Izzuddin-Sze Fei lost 21-17, 18-21, 21-19 to 18th-ranked Shobihul Fikri-Bagas Maulana for their first defeat in three meetings.
Kai Wun was pleased with how they fared against two-time winners Marcus-Kevin.
"We really enjoyed our first battle with Marcus-Kevin.
"In the first game, we managed to save four-game points but fell short of sealing the opening game.
"We will learn from the defeat and try to improve for the next tournament," said Kai Win.
SELECTED RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Men's doubles: Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Ina) bt Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (Mas) 23-21, 21-19; Shobihul Fikri-Bagas Maulana (Ina) bt Nur Izzudin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei (Mas) 21-17, 18-21, 21-19.
Women's doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (Mas) bt Lee So Hee-Shin Sheung Chan (Kor) 16-21, 21-14, 21-18; Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien (Mas) bt Linda Efler-Isabel Lohau (Ger) 21-17, 23-21; Liu Xuan Xuan-Xia Yu Ting (Chn) bt Anna Cheong-Teoh Mei Xing (Mas) 21-9, 21-14.
Mixed doubles: Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (Mas) bt Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Lisa Ayu Kusumawati (Ina) 20-22, 21-19, 21-12; Hoo Pang Ron-Toh Ee Wei (Mas) bt Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei (Mas) 23-21, 22-24, 21-17.