KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair of Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong led the charge to the last eight of the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters Badminton Championships today.
Sixth seeds Goh/Tan edged host pair Inkarat Apisuk/Sutichon Pol-Gul 21-11, 21-17 in their second-round match at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website. www.bwfbadminton.org.
Former 2010 World Championships runners-up Koo Kien Kiat/Tan Boon Heong dismissed Choi Solgyu/Kim Jae Hwan of South Korea 21-16, 21-15.
Malaysia’s top women’s doubles Vivian Hoo Kah Mun/Woon Khe Wei faced stiff resistance from Indonesians Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah/Rizki Amelia Pradipta before advancing 17-21, 21-14, 21-19.
World number 13 mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying, seeded seventh, whitewashed Rian Swastedian/Apriani Rahayu of Indonesia 21-10, 21-8.
Malaysia’s challenge in men’s singles fizzled out after the two remaining players were shown the exit. Former 2011 world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli lost 17-21, 14-21 to second seed Son Wan Ho of South Korea while former national shuttler Tan Chung Seang went down 17-21, 21-18, 9-21 to another South Korean, ninth seeded Jeon Hyeok Jin.
Malaysia did not send any women’s singles for the Grand Prix Gold tournament that offers US$120,000 (RM498,267) in prize money. — Bernama
