Malaysia’s top men’s and women’s doubles pairs, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, made winning starts at the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, today, cruising into the second round with straight-game victories.
Also joining them are men’s doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri, who surprised China‘s world No 14 Huang Di-Liu Yang in straight games of 23-21, 22-20.
World No 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik defeated Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard 21-18, 21-15 in 37 minutes at the Energia Areena. It was the Malaysians’ third win over the Danish pair in as many meetings.
They will face compatriots Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong, who received a first-round bye, in an all-Malaysian clash in the next round.
In the women’s doubles, Pearly-Thinaah, also ranked world No 2, overcame Denmark’s Natasja Anthonisen-Amalie Cecilie Kudsk 21-13, 21-14 in 32 minutes.
They will face Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari tomorrow.
Mixed doubles duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie also advanced to the second round after receiving a walkover from Scotland’s Alexander Dunn-Julie Claire MacPherson.
They will meet England’s Karen Feng and Switzerland’s Innocenzo Santoro in the second round.
Three more Malaysian men’s doubles pairs will open their campaigns today in the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament.
Malaysia has no representatives in the men’s and women’s singles events.
