KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — World number one, Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong, were sent packing in the first round of the China Open in Fuzhou today.

The pair lost to Zhang Nan/Liu Cheng of China, 21-19, 16-21, 22-24 in a match which lasted one hour and five minutes.

V Shem/Wee Kiong took over as world number one pair after Lee Yong Dae-Yoo Yeon Seong of South Korea retired from international competition.

Another Malaysian pair, Koo Kien Kiet/Tan Boon Heong, lost 21-19, 17-21, 13-21 to Mads Conrad Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding of Denmark, according to the tournament website.

However, men’s singles player Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin advanced to the second round after beating Lin Yu Hsien of Taiwan 19-21, 21-15, 21-11.

Iskandar will meet Guo Kai of China, who beat Kazumasa Sakai of Japan 21-14, 11-21, 21-5.

Another men’s singles player, Zulfadli Zulkifli, lost to Hu Yun of Hong Kong in straight sets 18-21, 19-21.

The women’s doubles of Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei took only 26 minutes to beat Xiao Min Lin/Wu Fang Chien of Taiwan in straight sets, 21-8, 21-10.

The pair will play the second seed, Jung Kyung Eun/Shin Seung Chan of South Korea, who got a bye in the first round. — Bernama