BAC: Malaysian pairs hand former world champ two defeats in a day

Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin lived up to their top seed tag, while Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai also joined them in dishing out two defeats to former world champion Dechapol Puavaranukroh at the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC).

Goh-Lai handed Puavaranukroh his first defeat with mixed doubles partner Supissara Paewsampran after a fired-up performance to notch a 21-17, 21-14 victory in 39-minutes.

The world number three husband-wife pair have been consistent this year, and comfortably booked their third consecutive quarter-finals berth in Ningbo, China.

The third seeds will be confident of their chances against Indonesian pair Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu in the last eight on Friday.

Top seeds Goh-Izzuddin then combined to send Puavaranukroh packing from this competition, following the Thai star’s second defeat of the day in the men’s doubles.

The world number two Malaysians were clinical in their 21-18, 22-20 victory over Puavaranukroh and his partner Kittinupong Kedren.

Goh-Izzuddin, who are touted as Malaysia’s best hopes of winning silverware in this regional competition, will next face Chinese pair Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi.

Most of the other Malaysian contingent lost their matches.

They include Goh Jin Wei, Justin Hoh, Wan Junaidi Arif-Yap Roy King, Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.