HANGZHOU: Clearly disappointed with Malaysia's defeat in the Asian Games men's team event, shuttler Ng Tze Yong has vowed to put up a better performance in the individual competition.
In fact, Tze Yong admitted that he was wrong to skip the press interview after Malaysia's 3-1 defeat to South Korea last Thursday and has apologised for his action.
On Tuesday, Tze Yong scored a superb 21-12, 21-14 upset over former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore to reach the last 16 stage at the Binjiang Gymnasium here.
The win was Tze Yong's third over the Penang-born Kean Yew in four meetings since the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
"I'd like to apologise first for what happened here (mixed zone) after the team event.
"I was feeling very down with the defeat and very disappointed with myself. I'm sorry for skipping the interview," said Tze Yong, whose defeat to Lee Yungyu in the team event saw Korea take a 2-1 lead.
Malaysia would go on to crash out in the first round after Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi succumbed to Kim Won Ho-Na Sung Seung in the second doubles match.
Putting the past behind, Tze Yong said he needs to continue improving, as his biggest challenge right now is stringing together a few good performances.
"Every match is an opportunity to improve on something. My challenge right now is being consistent.
"I'd beat a top player one day and find it hard to win in the next. I need a breakthrough.
"I've identified what needs to be improved, but I won't say it out loud, for now it's best that I know it alone," added the world No 19, who will face Thailand's Kantaphon Wangcharoen next, for a place in the quarter-finals.
"I haven't played him before, so I can't say much. He is, however, more senior than me. I'm hoping to play well and get my breakthrough," he said.
Also clearing the early stages were top women's doubles duo, Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah.
The 2022 French Open champions made easy work of Singapore's Jin Yu Jia-Crystal Wong 21-12, 21-16 in the first round and will play Thailand's Jonkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai next.
It was, however, the end of the road for another women's doubles duo Go Pei Kee-Valeree Siow, who went down 21-9, 21-13 to Japan's Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida.
RESULTS (Malaysians only)
Second Round
Men's singles: Lee Zii Jia bt Mourinho Gusmao de Jesus (Tim) 21-0, 21-7; Ng Tze Yon bt Loh Kean Yew (Sin) 21-12, 21-14.
Women's singles: Goh Jin Wei bt Vu Thi Anh Thu (Vie) 21-10, 21-13; Busanan Ongbamrungphan (Tha) bt K.Letshanaa 21-13, 21-10.
First Round
Women's doubles: Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah bt Jin Yu Jia-Crystal Wong (Sin) 21-12, 21-16; Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) bt Go Pei Kee-Valeree Siow 21-9, 21-13.