China Open: Tze Yong stuns World Championships bronze medalist Prannoy

Ng Tze Yong claimed another big name scalp after beating Indian star H. S. Prannoy 21-12, 13-21, 21-18 took book his place in the China Open second round on Tuesday.

Prannoy came into this match as the favourite, having recently clinched a World Championships bronze medal in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he also eliminated Viktor Axelsen.

But Ng showed tremendous improvement himself and he flexed that in the first game with a dominant performance to take the lead.

Prannoy fought back with a big performance in the second game to level matters and take it to a deciding match, where he looked on course to get the win by holding a 13-8 advantage at one point.

The turning point of the game came in that rally as Ng produced two amazing saves to win the next point and start his comeback.

Prannoy’s slim 18-17 advantage was soon erased as the Malaysian secured the next four points for the win and a second round showcase against Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren Rhustavito.

Mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing were among the other Malaysians who came through to the next round after they beat compatriots Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai 25-23, 21-15.

Tan-Lai face Indonesia’s Praveen Jordan-Melati Daeva Oktavianti next.

National women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah, who heartbreakingly crashed out at the World Championships last eight, returned to winning ways at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou.

The world number 11 pair defeated Dutch duo Debora Jille-Cheryl Seinen 17-21, 21-17, 21-10 to progress, but they should likely face a tough second round against Japan’s Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota.