Game over for Malaysian shuttlers in Singapore Open

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s campaign in the World Tour Super 750 Singapore Open badminton championships came to an end in the quarter-finals this evening.

Three of the men’s doubles pairs lost in their last eight matches, while mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei were forced to retire in the first game against their Indian rivals.

World No 2 pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, the defending champions, put up a lethargic display as they lost to China’s top pair, Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang, 15-21, 15-21 in a match that lasted just 31 minutes.

It was their 11th loss to the world No 3 Chinese pair in 14 encounters.

Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing were also defeated by India’s world No 4 duo, Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, in their last eight match.

The 27th-ranked Malaysians, who had defeated the Indian pair in straight games at the All England in March, gave their opponents a run for their money by stretching them to three games before losing 21-18, 17-21, 13-21 in 65 minutes.

It was more unfortunate for Tang Jie-Ee Wei as they were forced to retire while leading 18-16 in the first game against Indian duo Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto.

It is unclear why they had to withdraw after playing for 24 minutes but it could be due to an injury suffered by Ee Wei.

Earlier in the day, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani lost their quarter-final match to Indonesian pair Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri in three games.

Malaysia’s singles shuttlers also suffered a disastrous campaign in the Singapore Open after all four representatives were knocked out in the first round.

المصدر: Free Malaysia Today