PETALING JAYA: Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong held their nerve to beat China’s Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han 21-15, 12-21, 21-18 and advance to the last-16 of the men’s doubles competition at the Malaysia Open badminton tournament.
Azriyn-Wee Kiong are ranked 32nd in the world while their opponents are ranked world No 40. They will now face India’s world No 7 pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, who triumphed against world No 43 pair Ming Che Lu-Tang Kai-Wei of Taiwan 21-10, 16-21, 21-5.
Azriyn-Wee Kiong are among the seven Malaysian pairs to advance past the first round at the Malaysia Open which is being held at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Their win also means Malaysia will have four pairs in the last-16 of the men’s doubles competition.
Earlier today, world No 6 pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik moved into the last-16 after beating American world No 37 pair Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith 21-15, 16-21, 21-10.
World No 24 pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, meanwhile, shocked Indonesia’s world No 4 pair Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto 15-21, 21-17, 21-13.
Yesterday, world No 14 pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun booked their berth in the last-16 after a 21-12, 21-17 win against Japan’s world No 19 pair Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura.
The other Malaysians through to the next round are mixed doubles pairs Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai, as well as the women’s doubles duo of Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien.
