Malaysia showed their doubles prowess in badminton with eight pairs across all three categories qualifying for the last 16 at the World Championships in Paris.
The latest pairs to book a place in the third round at the Adidas Arena early this morning were men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, and mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
Yesterday, men’s doubles pairs Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, mixed doubles pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, and women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah made it to the last 16 as well.
World No 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik had it easy, taking on unheralded Scottish brothers Christopher and Matthew Grimley in the second round after receiving a bye in the first. The Malaysians won 21-15, 21-17 in 30 minutes.
They will meet compatriots Wan Arif-Roy King, ranked No 22, in an all-Malaysian last 16 match.
World No 3 Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin were given a scare by the 30th ranked Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith from the US, losing the opening game before coming back to force a decider and eventually win 19-21, 21-10, 21-17 in 51 minutes. It was the third win over the Americans for the Malaysian pair.
They are drawn to play Taiwan’s world No 18 pair Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan in the next round.
In the mixed doubles, world No 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei outclassed Indian pair Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Shivani Gadde to win 21-16, 21-11 in just 30 minutes.
In the last 16, they will meet up-and-coming Indonesian pair Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu, ranked 11th, who have been in fine form of late.
The Malaysians have the edge as they have beaten their rivals twice so far.
Another all-Malaysian third round match will be in the mixed doubles between Pang Ron-Su Yin, who will face Soon Huat-Shevon Lai today.
Malaysia’s representatives in the men’s and women’s singles events meanwhile have all been knocked out of the championships.
