KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — Newly minted national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Clarissa Tan made their first advance to the second round when they defeated German pair Marvin Seidel-Thuc Phuong Nguyen in the first round of the China Open today.

The match, which took place at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, saw the pair — who were newly partnered just last week — take only 37 minutes to overcome Seidel-Nguyen with a score of 21-17, 21-19.

The result also marks Tang Jie-Clarissa’s first time advancing to the second round since being paired together, following an early exit in the first round of the Japan Open last week.

Tang Jie-Clarissa are expected to face a tough test as they are scheduled to meet the tournament’s second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang-Chen Fang Hui of China in the second round.

Meanwhile, national men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani also marched into the second round after bouncing back from a first-set loss to secure a 2-1 victory over Taiwanese pair Chen Zhi Ray-Lin Yu Chieh.

After dropping the first set 15-21, Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin regrouped to take the second set 21-15 before completing the comeback with a 21-16 win in the decider.

The world number seven pair are scheduled to meet Danish duo Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard in the second round. — Bernama