Goh first seeded player to fall as others advance

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KUCHING: Goh Soon Huat of Malaysia became the first seeded casualty of the Maybank Malaysia Kuching International Challenge as the other top seeds made it to the last 16 of the men’s singles competition at Stadium Perpaduan, Petra Jaya yesterday.

The tournament’s seventh seed and former national shuttler was edged out of the last 32 round by another Malaysian hopeful Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 21-17, 9-21, 21-16. Azriyn will next play compatriot Cheam Jun Wei after the latter saw off the challenge from Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Po Wei in straight sets of 21-14, 21-13.

Tournament favourite and top seed Lee Hyun Il had no problem in dismissing Malaysian challenger Muhammad Shakhier Ruhizad also in straight sets of 21-13, 21-12, taking only 24 minutes to secure victory.

The second seed Tan Chun Seang was given a scare by Chang En Chia as he came back from 15-21 down to beat the Chinese Taipei player 21-6, 21-16 while the third seed from Malaysia Zulfadli Zulkifli took 49 minutes to dispose of Thai shuttler Parinyawat Thongnuam 21-18, 21-16.

Thailand’s Khosit Phetpradab also advanced to the last 16 after he beat India’s Neeraj Vashist 21-14, 21-12 and he was joined by Lim Chi Wing, Soo Teck Zhi, Soong Joo Ven, Goh Giap Chin from Malaysia, Christie Jonatan, Ronald Susilo, Fikri Ihsandi Hadmadi, Sukamta Evert, Ihsan Maulana Mustofa from Indonesia and Lu Chia Hung from Chinese Taipei.

In the women’s singles, top seed Aprilla Yusawandri cruised into the second round after dumping Chen Su Yu of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-11.

The Indonesian ace was joined by second seed from Singapore Chen Jiayuan who beat Thailand’s Sarita Suwannakitborihan 21-15, 21-14 and women’s singles third seed Yang Li Lian from Malaysia who overcame Chinese Taipei’s Yu Chien Hui 21-13, 21-17.

Malaysia’s Sannatasah Saniru, the fourth seed, scored a hard-earned 19-21, 21-12, 21-8 from a spirited fighter in Indonesia’s Yulia Yosephin Susanto.

Those also making the second round yesterday were Gregoria Mariska, Ruselli Hartawan, Dinah Dyah Ayustine, Hana Ramadhini of Indonesia, Lee Zii Yii, Lydia Cheah Li Ya, Yap Rui Chen, Lim Yin Fun, Ho Yen Mei, of Malaysia, Kunjira Khongdee of Thailand, Sung Shuo Yun of Chinese Taipei and Aya Ohori from Japan.

The women’s doubles saw top pair from Japan Ayane Kurihara-Naru Shinoya moving into the second round after an easy 21-4, 21-11 win over Malaysians Erica Khoo Pei Shan-Vern See To Chia.

Unseeded pair from Singapore Elaine Chua Yi Ling-Citra Dewi Sari caused a major upset when they upstaged the third-seeded pair from Thailand Pacharapun Chochuwong-Chanisa Teachavorasinskun 21-10, 21-10 in the first round match in 27 minutes. Marching on were Chinese Taipei’s Yang Ching Tun-Yu Min Ju who beat Singapore’s Ng Sin Er-Yap Harn Xin 21-10, 21-18 and Indonesia’s Brigita Marcela Rumambi-Merisa Cindy Sahputri who defeated Chinese Taipei’s Pan Tzu Chin-Tsai Hsin Yu 21-17, 21-16.

Meanwhile, in the mixed doubles first round matches that were played in the morning, top seeds from Malaysia Wong Fai Yin and Chow Mei Kuan overcame a stiff resistance from Japan’s Yuki Kaneko-Naru Shinoya to win 21-9, 23-25, 21-13 and joining them in the second round are three more Malaysian pairs.

They are second seeds Tan Chee Tean-Shevon Jemie Lai who ousted China Taipei’s Chang Ko-Chi and Chen Szu Yu 21-9, 21-17, Soo Kar Seong-Yap Harn Xin who beat China’s Taipei’s Lin Shang Kai and Tsai Hsin-Yu 21-14, 21-18 while Chan Ren Cong and Lydia Cheah Li Ya overcame Australia’s Daniel Guda-Gronya Somerville 21-17, 22-24, 21-11.