KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 — The national men’s doubles pair of Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong were shut out of the Malaysia Open Super Series Premier Badminton Championship when they were eliminated in the first round at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.

The pair lost 18-21 in the first set to China’s Chai Biao/Hong Wei but returned to win the second set 21-15 but the challenge ended in the rubber set in 14-21.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medal pair were not able to crack the Chinese defence and Malaysia’s presence in the men’s doubles have been snuffed out of the tournament.

“We did not play badly, we tried our best but our defence was not tight enough, that’s why we lost. We tried to get more points but failed.  

“Today, we had better combination and understanding on court than the Swiss Open two or three weeks ago but overall, we still achieved our target,” Wee Kiong told a media conference after the match.

V Shem said luck was just not on their side to bring the country’s challenge into the second round tomorrow.

“In the third set, we changed our strategy to speed up play and focus at the net but it did not pay off,” he said.

Meanwhile, coach Pang Cheh Chang said the pair should have more confidence with the planned strategy to win the third set.

“We have enough preparation but the combination is still not firm,” he said.

In the women’s camp, two of the three national doubles pairs cruised into the second round today.

Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei beat Puttita Supajirakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand 17-21, 21-17 and 21-16 while Amelia Aliacia Anscelly/Soong Fie Cho defeated Dutch pair of Samantha Barning/Iris Tabeling 21-13 and 21-17.  

Amelia/Fie Cho will meet Isabel Herttrich/Gerbirgit Michels of Germany while Vivian/Woon were expected to face Indonesia’s Anggia Shitta Awanda/Mahadewi Istirani Ni Ketut or Christina Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark.

In another women’s doubles match, Lee Yee Meng/Lim Yin Lee lost to Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth/Inarizki Amelia Pradipta of Indonesia, 21-8 and 24-22. — Bernama