Arif-Roy King eye another good run in Bangkok
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's men's doubles pair Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King aim to replicate their previous result at a Super 500 tournament after winning their first-round match at the Thailand Open today.
The world No. 21 duo were made to work hard before overcoming India's world No.16. 45 K.R. Pruthvi-K. Sai Pratheek 22-20, 17-21, 21-18 at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok.
The last time Arif-Roy King featured in a Super 500 tournament, they reached the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Masters in January.
They will be eager to replicate that run, especially after suffering early exits in their previous two tournaments.
In the second round, they will face either compatriots Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing or Thailand's Pharanyu Kaosamaang-Tanadon Punpanich.
Meanwhile, Choi Sol Gyu-Goh V Shem booked their spot in the next round after defeating Taiwan's world No. 38 pair Chen Zhi Ray-Lin Yu Chieh 21-15, 21-15.
They will meet the winners of the all-Taiwanese clash between Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen and Chiang Chien Wei-Wu Hsuan Yi.
In women's doubles, world No. 53 Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting put up a spirited display against India's world No. 10 pair Tereesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Pullela but fell 21-15, 21-13.
It was also an early exit for professional men's doubles pair Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong, who were outclassed 21-11, 21-17 by Indonesia's world No. 4 duo Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto.
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