The Malaysia mixed doubles pair of Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing en route to the last 16.
SIBU: Two mixed doubles pairs, two women’s doubles pairs and two singles players from Malaysia advanced to the last 32 as the Victor Far East Malaysia Masters (VFEMM) 2017 entered its second day at Sibu Indoor Stadium yesterday.
Former BAM player Chong Wei Feng stole the limelight as he stormed into the last 16 with a convincing 21-15, 21-9 win over Henrikho Kho Wibowo of Indonesia.
Wei Feng, Malaysia biggest hope to lift the men’s singles title, had earlier created a major upset when he came from behind to beat tournament 11th seed Sony Kuncoro of Indonesia 12-21, 21-6, 21-9 in the last 32.
Against Kho Wibowo, Wei Feng was able to play a more relaxing game, sending the Indonesian packing in 32 minutes.
Interviewed after the match, Wei Feng said he was not too happy with his overall performance yet.
“I still committed some easy mistakes and hopefully, I will be able to be at my best in the last 16,” he said.
In the absence of defending champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Wei Feng was well aware that the burden to help Malaysia lift the men’s singles title rested heavily on his shoulders.
Last year’s runner-up Iskandar Zainuddin also withdrew at the last minute due to injury.
The challenge from other Malaysia men’s singles had more or less fizzled out. They included Lim Chi Wing, Soo Teck Zhi, Tan Chun Seang, Leong Jun Hao, Sim Fong Hau and independent player Zulfadli Zulkaffli.
Tournament top seed Ng Ka Long from Hong Kong China, 5th seed Lee Hyun Il from Korea and 7th seed Tommy Sugiar of Indonesia remain in the running.
In the women’s singles, Malaysian Lee Ying Ying dumped Indonesian Lyanny Alessandra Mainaky 21-11,21-18 to ease through to the last 16.
Malaysia’s top women’s singles player Goh Jing Wei and former national champion Sonia Cheah have yet to play at press time.
Top seed and World No. 9 Saina Nehwal ensured her presence felt after easily beating Indonesia’s Korepap Chasinee 21-9, 21-8 in her opening game.
For the mixed doubles category, it was a walk in the park for the Malaysian pair of Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing who beat Ferdinand Sinaria Surbakti-Cynthia Shara Ayunidha of Indonesia 21-8, 21-7.
Another Malaysian mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lau also won 21-19, 21-18 against Tedi Supriadi-Devi Tika Permatasari of Indonesia.
In the men’s doubles, Teo Kok Siong-Hoon Thien How, tournament 8th seed, overcame Malaysian compatriots Aaron Chia-Tan Jinn Hwa 21-17, 21-16.
The biggest upset of the day happened in the men’s singles when No. 5 seed Hu Jun lost in straight sets to unheralded Indonesian Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo 15-21, 13-21.
Others seeded players failing to make it to the last 16 included 14th seed Brice Leverdez of France, 13th seed Zulfadi Zulkiffli of Malaysia and 12th seed Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese Taipei.