KUALA LUMPUR: World champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei’s hopes of securing their first Badminton Asia Championships mixed doubles title were dashed today when they fell to an unheralded South Korean pair in the quarter-finals.
The world No 4 pair, who won the Indonesia Masters in January, were a pale shadow of themselves, going down to world No 147 Kim Jae Hyeon-Jang Ha Jeong in straight games of 19-21, 17-21 in a match lasting 46 minutes.
The Malaysian pair, who were hoping to win their first Asian title, have not been impressive this season, during which they took part in six tournaments.
Although they won the Indonesia Masters in January, they were subsequently eliminated in the first round twice and only reached the last eight in three tournaments.
Only men’s doubles defending champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah remain in the running for a semi-final berth. They will play their quarter-final matches later today.