Jeonju City: Lai Pei Jing who started her bid for the mixed doubles title with new partner Tan Kian Meng at Korea Masters, has been sensationally derailed in the first round by Korean mixed doubles pair Kim Duk Young/Go Ah Ra on Tuesday.
The Malaysian pair moved well, served well and got off to a good start to take the first set 21-16. However, Lai/Tan suddenly lost focus when they were leading 20-17 in the second set, and out of nowhere handed Kim Duk Young/Go Ah Ra 5 consecutive points, ended up losing the second set 20-22. Lai/Tan were clearly demoralized after squandering 3 match-points in the second set by going down in the third set 15-21.
In men’s doubles, young Malaysian pair Tan Kian Meng/Teo Ee Yi won their first qualifying match against Park Kyung Hoon/Seo Seung Jae of Korea 21-11, 21-8, but lost their second qualifying against another Korean pair Kim Dae Sun/Song Chang Yeop 17-21, 15-21.
The USD$120,000 Korea Masters Grand Prix Gold event has attracted many top Korean players including Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong, Son Wan Ho, Lee Hyun Il, and Sung Ji Hyun, all of whom could potentially sweep the podium in men’s doubles, men’s singles, and women’s singles category.
Malaysian men’s singles shuttlers, Soo Teck Zhi, Zulfadli Zulkiffli, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin and Goh Soon Huat; women’s singles shuttlers Lim Chiew Sien, Ho Yen Mei, Lim Yin Fun; men’s doubles pairs Low Juan Shen/Ong Yew Sin, Chooi Kah Ming/Ow Yao Han will play their opening matches in the main draw on Wednesday.
