It was the best day of the year for independent pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, who ended their run of 14 early-round exits by reaching the quarter-finals at the China Open.

The 2022 Korea Open champions, who were joined by national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei in the last eight, certainly deserved the plaudits for their comeback win on Thursday.

The world number 23 pair had to claw their way back after losing the first game, posting the 18-21, 21-19, 21-12 victory over Praveen Jordan-Melati Daeva Oktavianti.

“It is our first quarter-finals of the year, we are happy but the job is not done yet. We have learnt to not put pressure on ourselves and just do our best,” said the pair, who face fourth seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai next.

Similarly, Chen-Toh were brilliant to dump out South Koreans Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun 21-15, 15-21, 21-18 in an hour’s contest.

The highest ranked Malaysian mixed doubles pair at 11th should fancy their chances to get into the semi-finals when they face Chinese Taipei’s Ye Hong Wei-Lee Chia-hsin on Friday.

The men's doubles was confirmed of a Malaysian representative in the last four after Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi booked a date against each other.

Chia-Soh were clinical in their 21-16, 21-17 over Chinese duo He Ji Ting-Zhao Hao Dong as they continued their search for a first World Tour title.

They will need to overcome Ong-Teo, who also ran out comfortable winners against their Danish opponents.

Ng Tze Yong should have joined them into the last eight, but was left ruing his missed opportunities he had to finish off Shesar Hiren Rhustavito.

The national men’s singles shuttler held 15-9 and 20-16 leads in the deciding game, but his jitters got the better off him as he lost 21-18, 11-21, 20-22.

Rhustavito later even admitted he sensed Ng’s jitters as he trailed 16-20, which gave him the determination to pressure the Malaysian.

National women’s doubles pairs Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah and Teoh Mei Xing-Anna Cheong also crashed out after losing in straight games against their Japanese opponents.