KUALA LUMPUR: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah's bid to reclaim the Swiss Open title they won in 2021 was foiled by Taiwan's Lee Chia Hsin-Teng Chun Hsun in the first round yesterday.
The third-seeded Malaysians were beaten 21-15, 14-21 and 21-16 by the world No. 26 Taiwanese.
It was their second straight first-round exit and third this season. The world No. 8 also failed to clear their opening hurdles at the Malaysia Open and last week's All England.
Pearly-Thinaah will have a one-month break before their next assignment — the Asia Championships in Dubai from April 25 to 30.
Nevertheless, it was still a good day for the Malaysian shuttlers as world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (men's doubles), and Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien (women's doubles) progressed to the last 16.
Top seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik bounced back from their All England first-round defeat by beating Switzerland's Arthur Boudier-Pham Minh Quang 21-10, 21-10, while third seeds Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi dispatched Alexander Dunn-Adam Hall of Scotland 22-20, 21-13.
Professional pair Boon Xin Yuan-Wong Tien Ci overcame India's Rohan Kapoor-B. Sumeeth Reddy 21-15, 22-20.
Veterans Tan Kian Meng-Tan Wee Kiong exited with a 21-12, 15-21, and 21-11 loss to Taiwan's Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan.
Vivian-Chiew Sien ousted Americans Annie Xu-Kerry Xu 21-18, 21-18 in women's doubles.
Chiew Sien also played in the mixed doubles with Tien Ci, but they were no match for China's He Ji Ting-Du Yue, going down 21-7, 21-12.
But Tien Ci's campaign is not over yet, as he will still see action in the men's doubles today. Partnering Boon Xin Yuan, they overcame India's Rohan Kapoor-B. Sumeeth Reddy 21-15, 22-20 in the qualifier to qualify for the tournament proper. In men's singles, former Asian junior runner-up Soong Joo Ven has secured a meeting with compatriot Ng Tze Yong, slayer of world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, in the first round. Newly turned-independent S. Kisona beat France's Yalle Hoyaux 21-13, 21-17 in the women's singles qualifier and will face Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in the first round.