PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were made to work hard for a victory over a new Taiwanese pair in the opening round of the Singapore Open this evening.
The world No 8 pair needed 51 minutes to overcome Taiwan’s 235th-ranked Chen Cheng Kuan-Liu Kuang Heng in three games of 21-18, 10-21, 21-19 to set up a last 16 clash with another Malaysian pair.
They will next face compatriots and world No 17 pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who beat Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami-Takumi Nomura 21-12, 21-19 in 31 minutes.
This means Malaysia is assured of a quarter-final slot in the men’s doubles.
Other Malaysians in the second round are men’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing, and women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah.
In mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin are also in the second round.