Japan Open: Pearly-Thinaah strike big against third-seeded South Koreans

Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah were Malaysia's big winners on the opening day of the Japan Open as they dug in deep before stunning their third seeded opponents on Tuesday.

The Commonwealth Games champions recovered after going a game down to beat South Korea’s Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan 16-21, 21-14, 21-18 in an exchange that lasted an hour.

The world number 12 women's doubles pair had crashed out in the third round of the World Championships last week, and improved significantly to claim their first scalp of this Super 750 event held in Osaka.

Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien also won to progress, and should most likely come up against new world champions Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan in the second round.

The mixed doubles also saw two Malaysian pairs progress on the first day.

Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai overcame their Indonesian opponents in three games, and Hoo Pang Ron-Toh Ee Wei slogged hard to overcome national team-mates Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei 23-21, 22-24, 21-17.

Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, meanwhile, pushed top seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo hard before they lost 21-23, 19-21.

Another pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin battled for three games against Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana before going down 17-21, 21-18, 19-21, while Anna Ching-Teoh Mei Xing lost in straight games in the women’s doubles.

Fifth seed Lee Zii Jia is the main man in focus on the second day of the opening round as he meets K. Srikanth on Wednesday.

Liew Daren, Goh V Shem-Lim Kim Wah, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi,Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See and Lai Pei Jing are also in action on Wednesday.