GEORGE TOWN, Jan 20 — Malaysia’s top mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying kicked off their campaign in the Malaysia Masters Badminton Grand Prix Gold in style at the SPICE Arena, yesterday.
Backed by a hostile crowd, the pair beat Japan’s Ryota Taohata/Koharu Yonemoto 21-15, 21-16 in straight sets to move into the next stage of the qualifying.
“I was surprised by the large crowd today despite being the first day of qualifying. I hope the support and attendance will continue throughout the tournament and until the final,” said Liu Ying after the match.
Peng Soon/Liu Ying will meet Indonesia’s Irfan Fadhilah/Weni Aggraini in their third qualifying round tomorrow.
The Indonesian pair had earlier beaten Chang Ko-Chi/Chang Hsin Tien from Taiwan 21-14, 21-18.
Peng Soon/Liu Ying would be accompanied by two other Malaysian mixed doubles pair Wong Fai Yin/Shevon Lai Jemie and Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing.
Fai Yin/Shevon Lai who beat Phillip Chew/Jamie Subandhi from the United States 21-10, 21-11 face Shin Baek Cheol/Chae Yoo Jung from South Korea, the fifth seeds in the tournament.
Kian Meng/Pei Jing who pulled off a pleasant surprise by beating third seeded Indonesian pair Praveen Jordan/Debby Susanto 21-10, 21-16 face Ronan Labar/Emilie Lefel from France. — Bernama
