NATIONAL women’s singles shuttler Soniia Cheah lifted the gloom in the Malaysian camp when she upstaged China’s former Olympic champion Li Xue Rui to reach the second round of the Japan Open yesterday.
On a day when all the other Malaysians crashed out, Soniia rose to the occasion to chalk up a 21-18, 19-21, 21-17 win over Xue Rui, who is making a comeback from injuries.
“It was a very tough match, but I had a bit of luck on my side,” said world No 35 Soniia.
“I feel sorry for my teammates because I think everyone did well despite losing.
“Anyway, this is only the first round. I want to create more upsets,” added Soniia, who will face second seed Chen Yu Fei, also from China, next.
In the absence of two-time world junior champion Goh Jin Wei, who is nursing a mysterious stomach ailment, Soniia is Malaysia’s only prospect for an Olympic berth in women’s singles.
Asked if there was more pressure on her to perform now that she’s the only one left fighting for a spot, the 26-year-old said: “I’ve never seen Jin Wei as a rival… I just want to do my best and earn a spot in next year’s Olympics because that’s always been my dream.
“I cannot take things lightly and must continue to work hard.”
It was, however, a day to forget for the rest of the Malaysian contingent.
In men’s doubles, 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallists Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong suffered their third consecutive first-round exit after going down 24-22, 21-10 to Indonesia’s Wahyu Nayaka Arya Pangkaryanira-Ade Yusof Santoso.
The former BA of Malaysia (BAM) shuttlers had also crashed out in the opening rounds of the Indonesia Open last week and the Australian Open last month.
Another independent pair — Mohd Arif Latif-Nur Azriyn Ayub — also made an early exit after going down fighting 18-21, 21-13, 21-8 to World No 2 Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda of Japan.
In mixed doubles, Indonesia Open semi-finalists Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing failed to ride on their momentum, losing 21-18, 23-21 to Germany’s Mark Lamfuss-Isabel Herttrich.
In men’s singles, Lee Zii Jia also bit the dust after going down 21-19, 15-21, 21-19 to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk You.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming Mohd Fazriq Sidek reached the second round of the boys’ singles after dispatching Mongolia’s Sanchirjav Lkhaasuren 21-13, 21-6 in the first round of the Asian Junior Championships in Suzhou, China.
Fazriq, the youngest son of doubles legend Razif Sidek, will play Taiwan’s Chiang Chien Wei next.
Malaysia’s Kok Jing Hong also cleared his singles first-round hurdle after an impressive 21-16, 24-22 win over China’s Ye Hao Kun.
Jing Hong, however, faces a tall order next as he will meet eighth seed Bobby Setiabudi of Indonesia.
Malaysia last won the boys’ singles title through Long Jun Hao in 2017.