MEN’S doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong put behind their four consecutive first-round exits in World Tour tournaments to storm into the quarter-finals of the Korea Masters in Gwangju yesterday.
The independent pair had crashed out in the opening rounds in Denmark, France, China and Hong Kong.
But they made amends for the setbacks by defeating local favourites Kim Gi Jung-Lee Yong Dae 21-13, 16-21, 21-17 in a 53-minute second-round clash.
V Shem-Wee Kiong are hoping to bag their third title in the absence of top pairs from China and Indonesia.
The Rio Olympics silver medallists, who won the Thailand Masters and Taiwan Open earlier this year, will meet China’s Di Zi Jian-Wang Chan in the last eight today.
There was bad news, however, for Sea Games-bound men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, whose journey ended after losing 18-21, 21-15, 21-15 to Li Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan in the second round.
Aaron-Wooi Yik are Malaysia’s best bets for gold in the Nov 30-Dec 11 Sea Games in the Philippines in the absence of top Indonesian combinations Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo.
In mixed doubles, fourth seeds Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying had to come from behind to beat Japan’s Hiroki Okamura-Chisato Hoshi 16-21, 21-14, 21-17 in 62 minutes.
The Malaysians will play Taiwan’s Yang Po Hsuan-Hu Ling Fang today.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie also continued their fine form by beating Kim Won Ho-Kim Hye Rin of South Korea 22-20, 20-22, 21-17.
They will face South Korean third seeds Seo Seung Jae-Chae Yu Jung in the quarter-finals.
Another mixed doubles pair, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, let slip four match points to go down 16-21, 24-22, 27-25 to Taiwan’s Lee Jhe Huei-Hsu Ya Ching in 62 minutes.