KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 6 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun’s campaign at the China Masters ended in disappointment after they were beaten 21-10, 21-23, 21-14 by Indonesia’s Bagas Maulana-Leo Rolly Carnando in the last 16 in Shenzhen on Thursday.
The Malaysians were second best for most of the match but produced a stirring fightback in the second game, clawing their way back from 19-15 down to force a decider.
However, Wei Chong-Kai Wun could not sustain the momentum in the rubber as world No. 16 Bagas-Leo reasserted their control to seal the win in 58 minutes.
The result denied Malaysia an all-Malaysian quarter-final against Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who had earlier edged England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy.
It was Wei Chong-Kai Wun’s second straight last-16 exit after also falling at the same stage in last week’s Hong Kong Open.
Their form is a stark contrast to their consistent run in recent months, when they strung together six successive quarter-final or better finishes, a sequence that began with their Malaysia Masters triumph and included a semi-final showing at the Indonesia Open, a Super 1000 event.
In the women’s doubles, Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee also bowed out after the world No. 35 lost 21-13, 21-13 to South Korea‘s world No. 7 Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee.
The Malaysians had been hoping to set up a surprise all-Malaysian quarter-final with world No. 2 compatriots Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who advanced earlier with a quick win over Americans Jennie Gai-Francesca Corbett.
Pearly-Thinaah now face Ha Na-So Hee in the last eight, holding a 4-2 head-to-head advantage.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
