PETALING JAYA, May 27 — Malaysia’s doubles stars kept the flag flying at the Singapore Open today, with Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah marking a winning comeback and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik cruising into the last 16.
Tan-Thinaah, ranked world No. 2, returned after a two month injury layoff to edge Taiwan’s Hu Ling Fang-Jheng Yu Chieh 20 22, 21 16, 21 15 in 51 minutes at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported.
In tomorrow’s second round, they will face either Thailand’s Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard or Canada’s Jackie Dent-Crystal Lai.
Tan had missed the Uber Cup finals and last week’s Malaysia Masters due to a back injury.
Men’s doubles pair Chia-Soh also advanced, defeating France’s Christo and Toma Junior Popov 21 17, 21 15 in 37 minutes.
Their next opponents will be either Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi or England’s Ben Lane- Sean Vendy.
Mixed doubles second seeds Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei eased past compatriots Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing 21 15, 21 16 in 35 minutes, while Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai fell to Korea’s Kim Jae Hyeon-Jang Ha Jeong 21 14, 13 21, 14 21 in 56 minutes.
Malaysia’s singles players in both men’s and women’s categories were eliminated in the opening round yesterday.
