KUALA LUMPUR: Independent mixed pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing's places in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme could be under threat unless they reverse their fortune soon.
The duo, whose world ranking has already dropped to No 18, their worst since July 2017, suffered yet another early exit today at the Thailand Open, a tournament they won in 2016. They lost 15-21, 21-16, 21-16 to Taiwan's Ye Hong Wei-Lee Chia Hsin. This marked their seventh time falling in the opening hurdle this year.
The only tournaments they fared better in were the All England and Indonesia Masters, both which they exited in the last 16.
Kian Meng-Pei Jing were among 15 athletes picked for the RTG, when it was launched in early April to support the nation's best Olympic prospects in Paris next year.
The two main requirements for selection were that the athletes must be either 2020 Tokyo Olympic medallists or in the world's top 10 in their sports. Kian Meng-Pei Jing were world No 7 at the time of selection.
The RTG committee will review their performances periodically to ensure they are on track to challenge for Olympic gold.
Meanwhile, world No 7 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, also members of the RTG programme, survived a scare before eking out a 19-21, 21-15, 21-15 win over Hong Kong's Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Ng Tsz Yau.
In the men's singles, Leong Jun Hao continued his winning run from the qualifiers by beating homester Sitthikorn Thammasin 16-21, 21-16, 21-12, and will meet Christo Popov of France in the last 16.
Professional shuttler Cheam June Wei gave a good account of himself before going down 21-18, 18-21, 21-14 in 78 minutes to All England champion Li Shi Feng of China.
RESULTS (Malaysians only)
FIRST ROUND
Men's singles: Leong Jun Hao (Mas) bt Sitthikorn Thammasin (Tha) 16-21, 21-16, 21-12; Li Shi Feng (Chn) bt Cheam June Wei (Mas) 21-18, 18-21, 21-14.
Mixed doubles: Ye Hong Wei-Lee Chia Hsin (Tai) bt Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (Mas) 15-21, 21-16, 21-16; Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai (Mas) bt Reginald Lee-Ng Tsz Yau (Hkg) 19-21, 21-15, 21-15.