New Delhi: Malaysia’s mixed doubles world no. 14 Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai, progressed to the first quarter-finals of the 2024 season by defeating their Chinese opponents, Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi, in the second round of the India Open on Thursday.
Highlights of Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai vs. Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi in the 2024 India Open second round:
Goh/Lai had to work hard in the first set before securing a 26-24 victory over their opponents, who are positioned at 334th in the world.
The Malaysian duo then displayed a more consistent performance in the second set, overcoming Chen/Zhang with a score of 21-10 to ensure a spot in the quarter-finals, where they will face the fifth-seeded Chinese pair, Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin, who defeated the Japanese pair, Yuki Kaneko/Misaki Matsutomo, with scores of 21-14, 21-13.
“The competition in the upcoming quarter-finals will undoubtedly be tough… but since we’re at this stage, we need to give our best effort,” said Shevon Lai.
“Chinese pairs always maintain a certain standard in individual skills. So, this time, the opponents won’t be easy.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s world no. 9 mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei, faced a different fate as they were halted in the second round after losing to the Thai pair, Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Samsiree Taerattanachai, with scores of 19-21, 16-21.
“Actually, for today’s match, we didn’t think too much… just focused on the game on the court, but in the end, we still lost. Anyway, I feel like there’s something we learned from this match,” said Toh Ee Wei.
Chen added that they need to further enhance their consistency level, as this advantage favored the Thai pair.
“Of course, I am disappointed with this result, but we need to realize that this is a competition, and winning and losing are part of an athlete’s life. So, we need to quickly rectify and prepare for the next tournament,” said Chen Tang Jie.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei is scheduled to participate in the Thailand Masters from January 30 to February 4.
In women’s doubles, the world no. 12 Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan lost to world no. 4 Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida of Japan 16-21, 13-21.
