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Tang Chun-man (left) and Tse Ying-suet are into the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open. Photo: AP

Singapore Open: mixed doubles pair Tang and Tse fly flag for Hong Kong as teammates crash out

  • Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet brush past Indonesia’s Hafiz Faizal and Serena Kani in just 28 minutes
  • Victory gets world No 7s into third quarter-final of the year, but Lee Cheuk-yiu crashes out of men’s singles

Hong Kong’s hopes of success at the Singapore Open rest with mixed doubles pair Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet the only ones to make it through Thursday’s matches.

The world No 7s dispatched Indonesia’s Hafiz Faizal and Serena Kani in just 28 minutes, winning 21-16, 21-10 in their round of 16 encounter.

They are likely to face a sterner test on Friday in the quarter-finals against Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai, despite beating their Malaysian opponents in all five previous encounters.

Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk-yiu crashed out of the Singapore Open. Photo: AP

However, while this is the third time Tang and Tse have reached the quarter-finals of a tournament this year, they have yet to make it into the final four.

“Both Tang and Tse have more experience than their opponents,” Tim He Yiming, the head coach, said. “We expect them to advance to the next round, and I hope they can keep it up.

“They have a good record against their opponents in the quarters, if they play their game, they have a chance to advance to the semi-finals.”

The head coach was less impressed with the results of Tang and Tse’s Hong Kong teammates.

Reginald Lee Chun-hei and Ng Tsz-yau lost 13-21, 7-21 to Chen Tang Jie and Valeree Siow of Malaysia in the second round of the mixed doubles, while men’s singles world No 15 Lee Cheuk-yiu was beaten 21-15, 21-13 by Malaysian qualifier Ng Tze Yong, who downed Hong Kong No 1 Angus Ng Ka-long in the first round.

“I am a little disappointed with the rest of the squad’s performance,” He said. “I hope they will give their all in the upcoming world championships in late August in Tokyo.”

Two of the favourites to win the men’s singles also crashed out on Thursday, with third seed Chou Tien Chen and fifth seed Jonatan Christie losing to Prannoy H. S. and Kodai Naraoka.

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