KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Professional mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing made a winning start to their French Open 2026 campaign, battling back from a game down to reach the second round at Arena Grand Paris yesterday.
Pang Ron-Pei Jing prevailed against China’s Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying 14-21, 21-15, 21-15 in 46 minutes to set up a meeting with Taiwan’s Liu Kuang Heng-Hsu Yin-Hui, who stunned fifth seeds from Thailand Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran 21-13, 22-24, 22-20.
Unfortunately, husband-and-wife pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie suffered an early exit after failing to capitalise on winning their opening game 21-17 against Germany’s Marvin Seidel-Thuc Phuong Nguyen, losing the next two games 15-21, 20-22.
Meanwhile, national women’s doubles pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting progressed to the second round as they trounced home pair Margot Lambert-Camille Pognante 21-11, 21-12.
A potential all-Malaysian affair awaits Xin Yee-Carmen should national women’s doubles top pair and newly-crowned Denmark Open champion Pearly Tan-M Thinaah beat Turkish pair Bengisu Ercetin-Nazlizan Inci in the other first round tie.
The French Open 2026 offers total prize money of US$950,000 (RM3.88 million). — Bernama
