Muelheim: Malaysian shuttlers got mixed results on day one of the 2022 German Open.
The World No. 10 Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing faced a tougher than expected challenge from William Villeger/Anne Tran of France, which needed 55 minutes to see off the French pair 15-21, 21-14, 21-12. Tan/Lai will take on Gregory Mairs/Jenny Moore of England in the second round.
After winning the first game 21-14, the World No. 61 women’s doubles pair – Vivia Hoo/Lim Chiew Sien showed their resilience in the second set, coming back from 6-9, 13-16 to beat Kati-Kreet Marran/Helina Ruutel of Estonia 22-20 in the second game. Hoo/Lim will face the winners between Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia or Julie Macpherson/Ciara Torrance of Scotland in the second round.
Meanwhile, the Rio Olympics mixed doubles silver medalist – Goh Liu Ying’s new partnership with Ong Yew Sin was off to a rocky start when the pair went down to Adam Hall/Julie Macpherson of Scotland 16-21, 13-21.
Malaysia’s World No. 13 mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai who had been training in Indonesia for the past one and a half months by former Olympic gold medalist Candra Wijaya, was stunned by World No. 48 Callum Hemming/Jessica Pugh 21-14, 13-21, 12-21 on Tuesday.
In another upset in the mixed doubles category, China’s former World No. 1 mixed doubles player – Zheng Si Wei seemed not comfortable playing with his new partner – Zhang Shu Xian, as they lost to Jones Ralfy Jansen/Linda Efler of Germany 19-21, 17-21.
