Wei Chong-Kai Wun, Soon Huat-Shevon win All England openers

2026-03-04 - 16:23

Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun will take on another Taiwanese pair Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin in the second round. (EPA Images pic) PETALING JAYA: National men’s doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun and mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat–Shevon Jemie Lai advanced to the second round of the All England Championships with comfortable victories today. The world No 6 pair Wei Chong–Kai Wun defeated the 22nd-ranked Taiwanese twins Lee Fang Chih–Lee Fang Jen 21-17, 21-16 in 40 minutes at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. In the round of 16, Wei Chong–Kai Wun will face Taiwanese pair Chiu Hsiang Chieh–Wang Chi Lin. Meanwhile, mixed doubles shuttlers Soon Huat–Shevon overcame the home pair Callum Hemming and Estelle Van Leeuwen in straight games. The world No 11 husband-and-wife duo won 21-14, 21-12 in 39 minutes against the English pair, who are ranked 28 places below them. However, Soon Huat–Shevon face a tough challenge in the round of 16, where they will meet China’s world No 2 pair Jiang Zhen Bang–Wei Ya Xin. The Malaysians have only recorded one win in 10 encounters against the Chinese duo. In another mixed doubles match, Malaysia’s world No 37 pair Lim Chiew Sien–Wong Tien Ci gave sixth-ranked Chinese rivals Guo Xin Wa–Chen Fang Hui a scare before losing in three games. The Malaysians won the first game 21-17 but dropped the next two 12-21, 9-21 in a match that lasted 56 minutes. Separately, men’s doubles pair Nur Azriyn Ayub–Tan Wee Kiong lost to Taiwan’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh–Chi Lin 18-21, 21-14 in their opening match.