KUALA LUMPUR – National men’s singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong failed to advance past the second round at the ongoing Kumamoto Masters Japan, following his defeat to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium today.
Malaysia’s world number 15 started well in the first set but fell short against the reigning Olympic champion, losing 22-20, 11-21, 18-21 in a match that lasted 65 minutes.
Axelsen will next play against Indonesia’s world number four, Jonatan Christie, for a spot in the semi-finals.
In an all-Malaysian affair, the top national mixed doubles pair of Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei beat Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai to advance to the quarter-finals.
The world number 14 pair had a small scare in the first set against their compatriots but rallied to win the match 16-21, 21-13, 21-13.
Their next challenge awaits against China’s world number ones, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong.
In another mixed doubles match, Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing emulated the success of their compatriots by defeating South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun.
The match, which lasted 36 minutes, saw the world number 21 pair defeating the South Korean world number sevens 21-14, 21-17 in straight sets.
Meanwhile, the women’s doubles pair of Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah showed no room for error in their game as they booked their slot in the next round.
The world number 12 pair easily defeated Japan’s world number 32 pair, Rui Hirokami and Yuna Kato 21-17, 21-16 in a match that lasted 41 minutes.
In tomorrow’s match, they will be facing Japan’s world number 14 pair, Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto, who earlier defeated Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo-yun and Yu Chien-hui 21-13, 21-11 to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. – November 16, 2023