Mixed doubles pair Tang and Tse return to action in bid for World Tour finals spot
- The Hong Kong duo had to pull out of their last-16 match last week at the Thailand Open after their opponents’ coach tested positive for Covid-19
- Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet are ranked 10th in the standings and need strong results to carry them through to the finals
Mixed doubles pair Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet are putting a disappointing week behind them in Bangkok as they take part in the second back-to-back Thailand Open, hoping to qualify for next week’s HSBC World Tour finals.
Last week, the Hong Kong pair withdrew from their last-16 round match in the opening tournament after the coach of their German opponents tested Covid-19 positive on the eve of the match. Following the health guidelines provided by the Sports Institute back home, they chose to forfeit the match.
Returning to court on Tuesday after their setback, the 2018 Asian Games silver medallists, however, showed good form, thrashing Thai opponents, Nipitphon Phuangphuapet and Chasinee Korepap, 21-13, 21-6 in their opening round match.
But they will face a daunting test on Thursday with South Korean pair Ko Sung-hyun and Eom Hye-won standing in their way of progressing further into the draw.
“Tang and Tse will have to work very hard if they want to reach the World Tour finals after last week’s incident,” said badminton head coach Tim He Yiming. “They have the quality but they will need to perform at their best in every match from now on.