Tze Yong's gritty display in early exit a positive sign

The Star

07-05-2025

Major test: Ng Tze Yong recently returned to action after a lengthy layoff due to a serious back injury.
PETALING JAYA: There was no shame and certainly no reason for tears for national men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong despite his early exit from the Taiwan Open.
The 24-year-old's first-round defeat to home player Wang Po-wei came as little surprise, given it was only his second tournament of the year.
While Po-wei has been competing consistently since early January and even won the Phuket International Series in April, Tze Yong only recently returned to action after a lengthy layoff due to a serious back injury, making this a major test of his match fitness.
Still, there were encouraging signs from Tze Yong, who put up a gritty fight before going down 21-18, 18-21, 17-21 in an 87-minute battle.
Malaysia had something to cheer about in the men's singles though, as rising star Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin progressed to the second round after overcoming compatriot Tan Jia Jie.
Aidil, however, had to dig deep for the win, eventually prevailing 21-13, 11-21, 21-8.
He now faces a much tougher task today when he takes on top seed and four-time champion Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan in the second round.
In the mixed doubles, sixth seeds Toh Ee Wei-Loo Bing Kun had no trouble seeing off Vietnam's Pham Van Hai and Than Van Anh 21-14, 21-10.
They will next face South Korea's Ki Dong-ju and Jeong Na-eun in the second round.
Meanwhile, in the men's doubles, Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong fell at the first hurdle after losing to Taiwanese pair Su Ching-heng and Wu Guan-xun 21-23, 21-14, 19-21 in a 63-minute duel.
There was more disappointment in the women's doubles as Cheng Su Hui-Tan Zhing Yi were outclassed by Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Apriyani Rahayu and her new partner Febi Setianingrum, going down 16-21, 13-21 in just 49 minutes.
Fortunately, teammates Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee managed to stay in the fight after edging Taiwan's Chung Chia-en-Huang Tzu-ling 21-19, 21-19.
The Malaysian pair will now take on eighth seeds Meilysa Puspitasari and Rachel Rose of Indonesia in the next round.
RESULTS
Malaysians only
Men's singles: Wang Po-wei (Tpe) bt Ng Tze Yong 18-21, 21-18, 21-17; Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin bt Tan Jia Jie 21-13, 11-21, 21-8.
Men's doubles: Su Ching-heng-Wu Guan-xun (Tpe) bt Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong 23-21, 14-21, 21-19; Takumi Nomura-Yuichi Shimogami bt Goh Boon Zhe-Loo Bing Kun 25-23, 21-12.
Women's doubles: Apriyani Rahayu-Febi Setianingrum (Ina) bt Cheng Su Hui-Tan Zhing Yi 21-16, 21-13; Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee bt Chung Chia-en-Huang Tzu-ling (Tpe) 21-19, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Toh Ee Wei-Loo Bing Kun bt Pham Van Hai-Than Van Anh (Vie) 21-14, 21-10.