KUALA LUMPUR: Men's singles Cheam June Wei recorded his first victory as an independent player as he marched into the second round of the Syed Modi International on Tuesday.
However, June Wei, who parted ways with the BA of Malaysia late last year, had to slog for more than an hour before carving out a 19-21, 22-20, 21-17 win over Canada's Sheng Xiaodong in the first round.
June Wei, 25, will face the winner of Wednesday's first round match between India's Kaushal Dharmamer and Singapore's Jason Teh on Thursday.
Also in action on Wednesday are Soong Joo Ven and last week's India Open semi-finalist Ng Tze Yong.
Meanwhile in the men's doubles, Wan Junaidi Wan Arif-Haikal Nazri or fondly known as the "Patatimo" duo failed to clear the first round when they lost 21-18, 19-21, 21-17 to local pair Ishaan Bhatnagar-K. Sai Praneeth.
In the women's doubles, independent pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien got off to a winning start when they saw off BAM's Goh Pei Kee-Yap Ling 21-15, 21-12.
Vivian-Chiew Sien, who reached the quarter-finals in New Delhi last week, will face either Sri Sai Sravya Lakkamraju-Swetaparna Panda or another Indian pair, Palak Arora-Unnati Hooda in the second round on Thursday.
