It turned out to be a fine day in the Land of Smiles as several Malaysians advanced to the quarter-finals of the Toyota Thailand Open yesterday.
Men's doubles Aaron Chai-Soh Wooi Yik put their previous disappointment behind as they reached the last eight following a 21-12, 6-21, 21-12 win over Indonesia's World N.70 Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin in the second round at the Impact Arena in Bangkok.
The World No 9 had crashed out in the first round of last week's Yonex Thailand Open.
"We played to our game plan in the first game, but we felt more pressure in the second," explained Aaron.
"They also changed their tactics, and it caught us off guard as we weren't able to adapt fast enough.
"Luckily, we held it tight and were more focused in the third game.
"I feel we are getting a bit more consistent and playing with confidence this week."
Aaron-Wooi Yik play compatriots Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in a repeat of last week's first-round match for a semi-final spot today.
World No 14 V Shem-Wee Kiong, who were runners-up at the Yonex Thailand Open, were also taken to three games before dispatching Thai pair Supak Jomkoh-Kittinupong Kedren 21-15, 16-21, 21-15.
World No 15 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also advanced to the last eight by overcoming Denmark's Mathias Christiansen-Niclas Nohr 8-21, 21-7, 21-17.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi face India's World No 10 S. Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, who defeated World No 8 Choi Solgyu-Seo Seung Jae 21-18, 23-21, in the quarter-finals.
In the men's singles, veteran independent shuttler Liew Daren kept the flag flying high by reaching the last eight.
The World No 41 was on song as he took out 28th-ranked HS Prannoy of India 21-17, 21-18.
The 33-year-old next faces World No 4 and last week's winner Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals.
"I felt good today, and it was in the second game that I didn't do so well by letting him level despite having an 18-13 lead," said Daren.
"It will be tough against Axelsen as he is playing well, but I will give it my best."
There were also fine wins in women's doubles as World No 14 Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean and World No 25 Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen both made it into the last eight.
M. Thinaah-Pearly Tan also turned on the heat with an impressive 19-21, 21-16, 21-9 win over Vimala Heriau-Margot Lambert.
They play compatriots Mei Kuan-Mean Yean for a place in the last four today.
In the mixed doubles, World No 35 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See also pulled off a fine upset when they defeated last week's semi-finalists Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue of France 21-14, 21-16.
Fifth seeds Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying powered past Indonesia's Adnan Maulana-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso 21-18, 21-15.
Malaysia's interest in the women's singles ended yesterday following S. Kisona's 21-10, 21-12 defeat to India's PV Sindhu.