The sixth-seeded pair took 40 minutes to see off Japan’s Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura 21-18, 21-15 to stretch their unbeaten run against the duo to 4-0.

Next up for the former 2022 world champions are lesser-known Indian pair, Hariharan Amsakarunan-Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi, who outplayed Sri Lanka’s Madhuka Dulanjana-Lahiru Weerasinghe, 21-3, 21-12.

Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah did not share the same fate, however, as they failed to break their jinx against Korea’s Kim Hye Jeong-Kong Hee Yong and lost 19-21, 26-28 in 58 minutes.

This marks their third straight loss to the South Koreans, who first defeated them in the India Open semi-finals in January.

Meanwhile, it was a return to forget for national men’s singles player Ng Tze Yong, who was easily eliminated by reigning world champion and third seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand 9-21, 12-21 in 44 minutes.

Ng, 24, had been sidelined for more than a year since February 2024 due to a back injury.

Malaysia’s hopes in the men’s singles category now rest on the shoulders of Justin Hoh, who staged a thrilling comeback in a 79-minute battle against Korea’s Hyeok Jin Jeon.

After a sluggish start which saw him losing the first game 14-21, Justin roared back to life and clawed his way through the next two games to win 22-20, 21-16.

A mammoth challenge awaits the unseeded shuttler tomorrow as he faces defending champion and second-seeded Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, who came from behind to eliminate Japan’s Koki Watanabe, 16-21, 21-12, 21-18.

The tournament that will run until Sunday offers a total prize pool of US$500,000, or about RM2.23 million.