RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 15 — The worst fears for national men’s and women’s doubles shuttlers at the Rio Olympic Games were confirmed after they were drawn to meet world number one pairs in the quarterfinals here today.
Men’s doubles pair Goh V. Shem-Tan Wee Kiong will meet South Korea’s Lee Yong Dae-Yoon Yeon Seong against whom they have lost five times and won once in six previous encounters.
Women’s doubles Vivian Hoo-Woon Khee Woon will take on Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi against whom they have lost in all seven previous encounters.
V. Shem said they would not prefer to meet the Koreans in the quartefinals but were ready for the challenge after morale booster win over world number four Fu Haifeng-Zhang Nan of China in the group matches.
The Malaysian number 12 in the world came from a set down to upset the Chinese 16-21, 21-15, 21-18 to top the group.
“We are ready to face anyone after beating the Chinese...,” said V. Shem.
Meanwhile, Vivian also echoed similar sentiments about the Japanese.
“We prefer to meet others in the quarterfinals as we have not won against them before,” she said.
Quarterfinals:
Men’s doubles:
[13] Ivanov Vladimir/Sozonov Ivan (RUS) vs [5] Chai Biao/Hong Wei (CHN)
[12] Goh V. Shem/Tan Wee Kiong (MAS) vs [1] Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong (KOR)
[4] Fu Haifeng/Zhang Nan (CHN) vs [3] Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang (KOR)
[22] Marcus Ellis/Langridge Chris (GBR) vs [8] Endo Hiroyuki/Hayakawa Kenichi (JAP)
Women’s Doubles:
[1] Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi (JPN) vs [15] Vivian Hoo/Woon Khie Wei (MAS)
[4] Jung Kyung Eun/Shin Seung Chan (KOR) vs [11] Eefje Muskens /Selena Piek (NED)
[2] Tang Yuanting/Yu Yang (CHN) vs [3] Nitya Krishinda Maheswari/Greysia Polii (INA)
[6] Christinna Pesdersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (DEN) vs [8] Chang Ye Na/Lee So Hee (KOR).
NOTE: The parenthesis denotes world ranking. — Bernama
