PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai moved into the quarter-finals of the India Open tournament today after defeating Japan’s Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi in three games.
The world No 5 resorted to long rallies instead of power play against the 159th-ranked Japanese pair to win 21-10, 19-21, 21-16 in 57 minutes.
This was only the fourth tournament for Watanabe-Taguchi, who formed their partnership last year.
The Malaysian pair have now beaten them twice in as many meetings so far.
They also won three games at the Kumamoto Masters in Japan last year.
In the quarter-finals tomorrow, Soon Huat-Shevon will play Taiwan’s Yang Po Hsuan-Hu Ling Fang.
The Malaysian pair, who were knocked out at the quarter-final stage the past two years, will be hoping to break their jinx at the India Open.