Mixed results for Chinese team on Day 1 of Malaysia Open 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) — Chinese shuttlers made gains on the first day of the Malaysia Open 2023 on Tuesday, scoring victories in several categories.

World champions Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong easily beat Yang Po-hsuan/Hu Ling-fang of Chinese Taipei 21-8, 21-14 in mixed doubles, while Olympic champions Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping beat Germany’s Mark Lamsfuss/Isabel Lohau 21-17, 23-21 at the Axiata Arena.

Women’s doubles world No. 1 Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan bested their Dutch opponents Debora Jille/Cheryl Seinen 21-11, 21-14 in a quick 26-minute match while women’s singles Han Yue overcame India’s Saina Nehwal 21-12, 17-21, 21-12 in a long-drawn 43-minute match.

However, their compatriots did not fare as well, with men’s singles player Shi Yuqi losing out 21-23, 24-22, 21-18 to Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei despite a strong effort while his teammate Weng Hongyang was beaten 8-21, 22-20, 21-19 by Denmark’s Anders Antonsen.

Similarly, women’s singles player He Bingjiao failed to overcome Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and both men’s doubles pairs Tan Qiang/Ren Xiangyu and He Jiting/Zhou Haodong were knocked out.

The Malaysia Open will run from Jan. 10 to 15.