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Japan Open: Pearly-Thinaah lead Malaysia to perfect start in Tokyo
It was a great day for Malaysia on the first day of the Japan Open with all four pairs making it to the second round, led by national women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M.T hinaah who staged a late comeback to earn their spot.
It was in this same event last year that Tan suffered a knee injury and was forced to leave the court in tears on a wheelchair.
But the shuttler with the world’s fastest female smash record and Thinaah were in their elements this time to notch a 21-11, 9-21, 21-19 victory over Chinese pair Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning.
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Tan-Thinaah trailed their opponents 16-19 in the decider, but used their experience to apply the pressure against the nervy Chinese who wilted under pressure to concede the final five points to the Malaysians.
The world number 11 pair most probably next face top seeded Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan, who beat them at last week’s Korea Open.
In the mixed doubles, Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See conjured a huge morale boosting 21-18, 21-18 victory against eighth seeds Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue.
The duo, who had not cleared the first round in their previous three tournaments, face Thai pair Supak Jomkoh-Supissara Paewsampran in the last 16.
Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei joined them after beating European pair Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek in straight games 21-15, 21-18.
The two-time BWF World Tour winners this year will aim to continue this run when they take on top seeded Chinese pair Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong next.
Men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also booked their place in the second round with a straight game success, where a showdown against defending Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin awaits.
Those two ????? matches at #JapanOpen2023. ?Stream it LIVE here: https://t.co/ZGTbExvCrn pic.twitter.com/hpp33pnxrG— Stadium Astro ?? (@stadiumastro) July 25, 2023
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