Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi checked into the World Championships quarter-finals after prevailing in bruising third game encounters, while Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik fell at the final stretch on Thursday.
Goh-Tan, back together after a four month absence, were again taken to the wire before they overcame Germans Bjarne Geiss-Jan Colin Volker 21-14, 14-21, 21-17.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist now play China's He Ji Ting-Tan Qiang for a place in the semis on Friday.
The Chinese pair had recovered from a game down before they overcame Chia-Soh 17-21, 21-14, 21-16.
Ong-Teo were made to work hard before overcoming Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty 22-20, 18-21, 21-15 to set up the clash against Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin.
The reigning Olympic champions from Chinese Taipei also came through with a hard-earned 21-18, 17-21, 18-21 win over Goh-Izzuddin.
The Malaysian duo, should be disappointed having failed to replicate their win over the same opponents at the Indonesia Open, lost their composure at 17-17 in the deciding game to gift several easy points at the end.
Spectacular double save from Nur Izzuddin ?? to clinch back this point!
— BWF (@bwfmedia) December 16, 2021
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Two other mixed doubles pairs also crashed out in the third round.
Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing put up a solid fight against third seeds Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino but lost 19-21, 19-21.
Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See also deserved to be commended for their battling spirit despite losing 13-21, 21-13, 18-21 against Mark Lamsfuss-Isabel Lohau.