KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles shuttlers Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei experienced contrasting results in the Kumamoto Masters first round in Japan today.
Tien Ci-Chiew Sien upset Denmark's world No. 19 Jesper Toft-Amalie Magelund while Tang Jie-Ee Wei were sent home early by new Thai pairing Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran.
World No. 45 Tien Ci-Chiew Sien were playing their Danish counterparts for the first time, and the match turned into an entertaining 74-minute battle at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.
The Malaysians trailed 20-19 in the first game but held their nerve to prevail.
However, Toft-Magelund recovered in the second game, winning easily before the momentum shifted in favour of Tien Ci-Chiew Sien for a 22-20, 11-21, 21-12 victory.
They will next play Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai who beat Taiwanese qualifiers Chang Ko Chi-Lin Yen Yu 21-15, 21-11, in the second round.
Malaysia's world No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei's return to the World Tour ended with a 21-15, 21-12 loss in 31 minutes to Dechapol-Supissara.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei had missed several tournaments following the latter's gym accident in September, which required 16 stitches to her arm.
During the second game, trailing 13-6, Ee Wei requested treatment for a foot issue. After treatment, she continued but couldn't change the outcome of the match.
Dechapol, a former world champion with Sapsiree Taerattanachai, began his partnership with Supissara after the Paris Olympics. They will next face either Denmark's Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch or the Netherlands-Danish pairing of Robin Tabeling-Alexandra Boje.
World No. 10 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai advanced to the second round after defeating Japan's Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi 18-21, 21-12, 21-14. They will next meet China's Zhou Zhi Hong-Yang Jia Yi.