Hangzhou: In a stunning twist at the Binjiang Gymnasium during the Asian Games, Malaysia’s world No. 19, Ng Tze Yong, dispatched Singapore’s 2021 world champion, Loh Kean Yew, in an impressive second-round encounter.
The 23-year-old Malaysian prodigy showcased sheer brilliance, taking down the match in two straight sets, 21-12, 21-14.
Highlights of Ng Tze Yong vs. Loh Kean Yew in the 2023 Asian Games second round:
Eyeing a spot in the quarter-finals, Ng’s next challenge is Thailand’s world number 35, Kantaphon Wangcharoen. Wangcharoen cruised past Maldivian player, Hussein Zayan Shaheed, with an impressive 21-3, 21-5 scoreline.
Reflecting on his performance, Ng remarked, “I’m satisfied with how I played today. However, each match reveals areas of improvement. I’ll be discussing strategies with Coach Hendrawan for the upcoming face-off. My next opponent is experienced, and it’s our first meeting, so it’s anyone’s game.” He further acknowledged the need to maintain consistency, hinting at previous challenges where he’d deliver an outstanding performance only to falter in subsequent matches.
In the women’s doubles front, Malaysia’s dynamic duo, Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan, marked their Asian Games debut with a decisive victory over Singaporean pair, Jin Yu Jia/Crystal Wong Jia Ying, ending the match at 21-12, 21-16. Fresh from their triumph at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the pair is next gearing up to face Thailand’s world number 10 duo, Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai.
However, it wasn’t all rosy for the Malaysian contingent. The promising women’s doubles pair of Valerie Siow/Go Pei Kee bid their Asian Games journey farewell, succumbing to the Japanese powerhouses, Chiharu Shida/Nami Matsuyama, with a 9-21, 13-21 defeat.
