PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing progressed to the second round of the French Open after coming from a game down to defeat a higher ranked Chinese pair in their opening round tie today.
Pang Ron-Pei Jing, who have climbed 20 spots to 31st in the world rankings in recent weeks, defeated world No 26 pair Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying 14-21, 21-15, 21-15 in 46 minutes at the Arena Grand Paris.
They will face Taiwan’s 23rd-ranked pair Liu Kuang Heng-Hsu Yin Hui in the last-16 tomorrow.
Malaysia’s top mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai were knocked out in the opening round by an unheralded German pair.
The husband-and-wife pair lost 7-21, 15-21, 20-22 to Marvin Seidel-Thuc Phuong Nguyen, ranked 27th, in 55 minutes.