Changzhou: Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan became Malaysia’s last remaining representatives at the China Open after securing a straight-game victory in the women’s doubles round of 16.
The Malaysian pair defeated Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr 21-19, 21-12 in approximately 30 minutes to reach the quarterfinals of the BWF World Tour Super 1000 tournament.
It was otherwise a difficult Thursday for Malaysian badminton, with six defeats from the country’s first seven second-round matches. Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Leong Jun Hao and two mixed doubles combinations were among those eliminated.
China enjoyed a much stronger day as men’s singles world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi advanced following another opponent’s retirement. Weng Hong Yang, Chen Yu Fei and Wang Zhi Yi also booked their places in the quarterfinals.
Pearly Tan-Thinaah Overcome Ukrainian Challenge
Pearly and Thinaah were tested during the opening game by Buhrova and Kantemyr, the world No. 28 women’s doubles pair.
The Ukrainians remained within striking distance throughout the first game, but the Malaysians handled the closing rallies with greater composure to take it 21-19.
Pearly and Thinaah then increased the pace in the second game. Their faster interceptions, stronger attacking pressure and improved front-court control allowed them to pull away for a comfortable 21-12 victory.
- Category: Women’s doubles
- Result: Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia defeated Polina Buhrova/Yevheniia Kantemyr of Ukraine 21-19, 21-12
- Match duration: Approximately 30 minutes
- Next opponents: Fourth seeds Yuki Fukushima/Mayu Matsumoto of Japan
Experienced Japanese Pair Await Pearly-Thinaah
Pearly and Thinaah will next face Japan’s fourth seeds Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto for a place in the China Open semifinals.
Fukushima and Matsumoto advanced after defeating compatriots Hinata Suzuki and Nao Yamakita 21-16, 21-10.
The Japanese combination brings considerable experience, strong defensive coverage and the ability to extend rallies. Pearly and Thinaah will need to maintain their attacking discipline while remaining patient against one of the most established pairs left in the draw.
- Quarterfinal: Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia vs. Yuki Fukushima/Mayu Matsumoto (4) of Japan
- Fukushima-Matsumoto second-round result: Defeated Hinata Suzuki/Nao Yamakita of Japan 21-16, 21-10
Aimsaard Sisters Stun Japan Open Champions
Thailand’s Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard produced one of the biggest women’s doubles upsets of the round by defeating South Korea’s sixth seeds Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong.
The Thai world No. 85 pair won 21-19, 21-9, recording their first victory over the Koreans in three meetings.
Kim and Kong entered the China Open with confidence after winning the Japan Open the previous week, but the Aimsaard sisters controlled the second game and prevented them from mounting a comeback.
Benyapa and Nuntakarn will next challenge China’s top seeds and defending champions Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning.
- Category: Women’s doubles
- Result: Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard of Thailand defeated Kim Hye Jeong/Kong Hee Yong (6) of South Korea 21-19, 21-9
- Next opponents: Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning (1) of China
Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik Exit in Round of 16
Malaysia’s new men’s doubles partnership of Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik was unable to build on its first victory together.
After defeating teammates Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing in the opening round, Wei Chong and Wooi Yik lost 16-21, 17-21 to Japan’s world No. 23 pair Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi.
The result ended the China Open campaigns of all four newly formed national men’s doubles partnerships.
Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai and Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King had already been eliminated in the opening round, while Junaidi-Khai Xing lost to Wei Chong-Wooi Yik in an all-Malaysian match.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Kakeru Kumagai/Hiroki Nishi of Japan defeated Man Wei Chong/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia 21-16, 21-17
- Outcome: Wei Chong-Wooi Yik were eliminated in the round of 16
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Surrender Nine-Point Lead
Malaysia’s fifth seeds and 2024 China Open champions Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani suffered a painful three-game defeat to Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin lost 19-21, 21-12, 19-21, extending their losing record against the Danish world No. 16 pair to two consecutive matches.
The Malaysians appeared to have the opening game under control after establishing a commanding 14-5 advantage. However, Lundgaard and Vestergaard gradually reduced the deficit before completing a remarkable 21-19 comeback.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin responded strongly in the second game, winning 21-12, but the Danes regained their composure in the decider and edged another tight game 21-19.
The result also denied the Malaysians revenge for their defeat to Lundgaard and Vestergaard in the Malaysia Masters final earlier this season.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Daniel Lundgaard/Mads Vestergaard of Denmark defeated Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (5) of Malaysia 21-19, 12-21, 21-19
- Next opponents: Fourth seeds Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang of China
Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang Reach Last Eight
China’s fourth seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang progressed after eliminating the Malaysia-South Korea combination of Goh V Shem and Choi Sol Gyu in straight games.
Liang and Wang will next meet Lundgaard and Vestergaard in the quarterfinals.
Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong Fall to Korean Top Seeds
Malaysia’s independent pair Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong were also unable to reach the men’s doubles quarterfinals.
They lost 13-21, 19-21 to South Korea’s top seeds Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae.
Azriyn and Wee Kiong produced a stronger challenge in the second game, but the world No. 1 Koreans remained composed during the closing rallies to complete the straight-game victory.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae (1) of South Korea defeated Mohd Azriyn Ayub/Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia 21-13, 21-19
- Outcome: Azriyn-Wee Kiong were eliminated in the round of 16
Other men’s doubles pairs reaching the quarterfinals included Indonesia’s second seeds and defending champions Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, as well as England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy.
Chen Tang Jie-Clarissa San Narrowly Miss Major Upset
Malaysia’s new mixed doubles combination of Chen Tang Jie and Clarissa San came close to producing a major upset before losing to China’s second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin.
Tang Jie and Clarissa dominated the opening game 21-11 and remained in contention throughout the deciding game, but the Chinese pair recovered to win 11-21, 21-14, 21-19.
The Malaysians held promising positions during the match but were unable to close it out against the experienced home pair.
Despite the defeat, their performance represented a clear improvement from their partnership debut at the Japan Open, where they were eliminated in the opening round.
Tang Jie is partnering 20-year-old Clarissa after his regular partner, Toh Ee Wei, underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
- Category: Mixed doubles
- Result: Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin (2) of China defeated Chen Tang Jie/Clarissa San of Malaysia 11-21, 21-14, 21-19
- Next opponents for Jiang-Wei: Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (5) of China
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Lose to Chinese Fifth Seeds
Malaysia’s husband-and-wife pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie also exited in the mixed doubles second round.
They were defeated 23-21, 21-15 by China’s fifth seeds Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui.
Guo and Chen will next face teammates Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin in an all-Chinese quarterfinal.
- Category: Mixed doubles
- Result: Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (5) of China defeated Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai Jemie of Malaysia 23-21, 21-15
- Outcome: Soon Huat-Shevon were eliminated in the round of 16
Leading Mixed Doubles Seeds Advance
China’s top seeds and defending champions Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping moved safely into the mixed doubles quarterfinals.
Denmark’s third seeds Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje, along with Thailand’s fourth seeds Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, also advanced.
However, China’s eighth seeds Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi were eliminated by Japan’s Yuta Watanabe and Maya Taguchi.
Shi Yu Qi Advances After Second Consecutive Retirement
In men’s singles, China’s world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi reached the quarterfinals after Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul retired during their deciding game.
Panitchaphon made a strong start and won the opening game 21-17, but Shi responded emphatically by taking the second 21-2.
Shi was leading 12-6 in the deciding game when the Thai player was forced to stop because of an injury.
It was the second consecutive match in which Shi advanced following an opponent’s retirement. Singapore’s Jason Teh Jia Heng had also withdrawn during their opening-round encounter.
- Category: Men’s singles
- Result: Shi Yu Qi (1) of China defeated Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul of Thailand 17-21, 21-2, 12-6 retired
- Outcome: Shi advanced to the quarterfinals
Weng Hong Yang Ends Leong Jun Hao’s Campaign
Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao was unable to build on his opening-round win over H.S. Prannoy after losing a closely contested three-game match to China’s Weng Hong Yang.
Jun Hao edged the opening game 22-20, but Weng responded strongly to take the second 21-11.
The deciding game remained competitive, with Jun Hao continuing to challenge the former China Open champion. Weng eventually produced the stronger finish to secure a 20-22, 21-11, 21-18 victory.
- Category: Men’s singles
- Result: Weng Hong Yang of China defeated Leong Jun Hao of Malaysia 20-22, 21-11, 21-18
- Outcome: Weng advanced to the quarterfinals; Jun Hao exited in the round of 16
Chen Yu Fei Survives 89-Minute Battle With P.V. Sindhu
China’s Chen Yu Fei completed one of the most dramatic comebacks of the day by defeating India’s Pusarla V. Sindhu in an 89-minute women’s singles contest.
Sindhu took the opening game 21-16 and came close to completing the victory in the second. Chen remained patient during a tense closing sequence and edged the game 22-20.
The Chinese player carried that momentum into the decider and eventually completed the comeback 21-18.
- Category: Women’s singles
- Result: Chen Yu Fei of China defeated Pusarla V. Sindhu of India 16-21, 22-20, 21-18
- Match duration: 89 minutes
- Outcome: Chen advanced to the quarterfinals
Wang Zhi Yi Cruises Into Quarterfinals
China’s second seed Wang Zhi Yi enjoyed a more straightforward route into the women’s singles last eight.
Wang defeated South Korea’s Sim Yu Jin 21-16, 21-15, maintaining control throughout both games and avoiding the long battle experienced by Chen Yu Fei.
- Category: Women’s singles
- Result: Wang Zhi Yi (2) of China defeated Sim Yu Jin of South Korea 21-16, 21-15
- Outcome: Wang advanced to the China Open quarterfinals
Pearly-Thinaah Carry Malaysia’s Remaining China Open Hopes
Malaysia’s second-round results in Changzhou produced a difficult day across men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles.
The defeat of Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik confirmed that all four newly formed national men’s doubles partnerships had been eliminated. Former champions Sze Fei-Izzuddin also missed the quarterfinals after surrendering a nine-point lead in their opening game.
Leong Jun Hao pushed Weng Hong Yang to three games but could not hold on after taking the opener. Tang Jie and Clarissa produced another encouraging performance despite their defeat, taking China’s second seeds to the final points of the deciding game.
China enjoyed a much stronger day, with Shi Yu Qi advancing after Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul retired, Chen Yu Fei completing a marathon comeback against P.V. Sindhu and Wang Zhi Yi winning comfortably.
Pearly and Thinaah now stand alone as Malaysia’s remaining representatives. Their quarterfinal against Fukushima and Matsumoto will determine whether Malaysia retains a place in the final four of the prestigious Super 1000 badminton tournament.
After rebounding from their early Japan Open exit, the Malaysian pair will attempt to continue their recovery against one of Japan’s most experienced women’s doubles combinations.
