KUALA LUMPUR: As Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi's form continued to take a nosedive, it seems Malaysia's hopes of having two men's pairs at the Paris Olympics are slowly slipping away.
The world No. 12's bid to reclaim the Thailand Masters title they last won in 2020 was foiled when they were stunned 25-23, 14-21, 21-14 by Denmark's Andreas Sondergaard-Jesper Toft in the last 16 on Thursday.
The latest early exit added to Yew Sin-Ee Yi's woes this year, as they have now gone three tournaments without advancing beyond the quarter-finals.
At the start of January, the pair, who are members of the Road to Gold programme, had 10 tournaments lined up in the next 14 weeks in a last-ditch attempt to secure their Olympic debut.
Unfortunately, Yew Sin-Ee Yi's journey has been far from smooth.
Following their quarter-final appearance at the Malaysia Open, a passport-related blunder by Ee Yi led to their withdrawal from the India Open.
Their struggle continued at the Indonesia Masters last week, where they exited the last 16.
Currently sitting at No. 12 in the Race to Paris standings, Yew Sin-Ee Yi are the only other Malaysian pair that still appear to have a mathematical chance to break into the top eight.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, comfortably positioned at No. 5, are almost assured of their place in the Paris Games. A nation can qualify a maximum of two pairs, provided both are ranked in the top eight.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi's loss summed up another disappointing day for Malaysia on the World Tour, with mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei remaining as the sole survivors.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei advanced after outplaying teammates Hoo Pang Ron- Cheng Su Yin 21-14, 21-15 and will now face the Netherlands' Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek in the next round.
Tabeling-Piek prevented an all-Malaysian affair in the last eight after prevailing 18-21, 21-15, 21-19 against Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing in a pulsating battle.
It was also the end of the road for Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai as they lost 21-17, 17-21, 21-16 to Indonesia's Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Lisa Ayu Kusumawati.
The Netherlands secured a double against Malaysia, with their top men's singles shuttler Mark Caljouw thumping Malaysian professional Cheam June Wei 21-7, 21-11.