Peng Soon-Yee See claim their first world top 10 scalp in Japan

PETALING JAYA: Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See gave themselves a much needed boost after stunning world No. 7 Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue of France in the first round of the Japan Open.

The independent mixed doubles pair have been struggling to find their best form this year but rose to the occasion to claim a superb 21-18, 21-18 victory over Gicquel-Delrue at the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo yesterday.

It was world No. 42 Peng Soon-Yee See’s first win over a pair ranked in the world’s top 10.

The pair had suffered early round exits in all their tournaments this year except the Orleans Masters in April where they reached the quarter-finals.

“We hope this upset win will help us regain our confidence as we kept losing before this,” said Peng Soon.

“We did feel the pressure but we are happy that we managed to play well overall to get the win.”

Peng Soon-Yee See will next face Thailand’s world No. 13 Supak Jomkoh-Supissara Paewsampran for a place in the last eight.

“I think the match against the Thai pair will be 50-50,” said Peng Soon.

“We have never played against them before this, so we will just prepare well.”

It was a good day for Malaysia when national pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei also reached the second round.

World No. 14 Tang Jie-Ee Wei did well to topple Holland’s world No. 9 Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek 21-15, 21-18.

Mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto was pleased with the pair’s response after they had suffered a first-round defeat in the Korean Open last week at the hands of independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.

“This is a good win for Tang Jie-Ee Wei as their confidence was affected a bit after the loss to Soon Huat-Shevon,” said Nova.

“I want them to play with more self-belief after this.”

Tang Jie-Ee Wei face a tough task next against China’s world No. 1 Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong.

Meanwhile, Soon Huat-Shevon will play Korean duo Ko Sung-hyun-Eom Hye-won in the first round today while another independent pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing will take on recently crowned Korean Open champions Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping of China.

RESULTS

(Malaysians only)

First round

Men’s doubles: Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi bt Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar (Fra) 21-15, 21-18. Women’s doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) 21-11, 9-21, 21-19.

Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See bt Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue (Fra) 21-18, 21-18; Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek (Ned) 21-15, 21-18.