In a surprising turn at the China Open, mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin defeated Taiwan’s Yang Po-hsuan and Hu Ling-fang, ranked 13th in the world. The Malaysian duo, ranked 32nd, won 21-17, 21-16 in just 28 minutes at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou.
Pang Ron and Su Yin, who have only been playing together since November, managed to pressure their higher-ranked opponents by controlling the shuttle better. Despite their recent rise from 40th to 32nd after a strong performance at the Hong Kong Open, they acknowledge that they still have much to learn.
The pair will face compatriots Yap Roy King and Valeree Siow in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. They anticipate a challenging match but are eager to demonstrate their growing chemistry on court.
In other news, Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing also advanced to the second round, defeating India’s Sumeeth Reddy and Sikki Reddy 21-10, 21-16. They will next compete against Denmark’s Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund.
