KUALA LUMPUR: In terms of partnership, national men's pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King are beginning to look promising.
After reaching the Spain Masters final in March, the world No. 64 continued to impress by stunning Taiwan's world No. 21 Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han Thailand Open first round today.
Arif-Roy King, playing catch-up with their higher-ranked national teammates, clawed back from a game down to upset the sixth-seeded Taiwanese duo 16-21, 21-13, 21-16. They will play Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard next. The Danes ousted national backup pair Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe 22-20, 21-12 in the first round.
"I'm just happy we got to finish the match with no injuries. We struggled a little in the first game because we couldn't play our game. Thankfully, we switched things up in the second and managed to hold on until the end of the deciding game," Arif said.
Regarding their upset against the Taiwanese, Arif said: "We had no pressure on us. From the start, after looking at the draw, we just wanted to enjoy ourselves on the court. All we wanted to do was play."
Also clearing the first round were Thomas Cuppers Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri. The Malaysian world No. 28 beat Scotland's Christopher Grimley-Matthew Grimley 21-16, 21-11 to set up a date with Pharanyu Kaosamaang-Worrapol Thongsa Nga. The Thai pair outplayed Malaysian qualifiers Chia Weijie-Liew Xun 21-19, 21-12 in the first round.
In the men's singles first round, Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao downed Taiwan's Su Li Yang 14-21, 21-15, 21-17. Jun Hao will face either Thailand's reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn or Denmark's Rasmus Gemke next.
In the mixed doubles, Roy King and Hon Jian both cleared the first round with their respective partners. Roy King-Valeree Siow defeated Hong Kong's Lui Chun Wai-Fu Chi Yan 21-19, 21-17, and will face Thailand's former world champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand next.
Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee saw off Thai pair Neuaduang Mangkornloi-Atitaya Povanon 21-10, 21-15 in the first round, and are up against seventh seeds Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Lisa Ayu Kusumawati next.