KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 93 Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri secured their most significant victory as a pair when they shocked fourth seeds Mark Lamsfuss-Marvin Seidel of Germany, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow on Thursday.
Hon Jian-Haikal, paired up in August following a partnership reshuffle, upset Lamsfuss-Seidel, last year's European champions, with a score of 11-21, 25-23, 21-10.
This win sets up an all-Malaysian clash with teammates Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King on Friday, ensuring a place in the last four for the country.
Arif-Roy King secured their progress with a dominant 21-6, 21-17 win over India's A. Hariharan-R. Ruban Kumar.
There was also positive news from the men's singles event as independent shuttler Soong Joo Ven scored an upset win against world No. 27 Wang Tzu Wei of Taiwan, the tournament winner in 2019.
Joo Ven, ranked No. 74 in the world, secured a convincing 21-19, 21-13 victory in 42 minutes and will face Frenchman Alex Lanier next.
Unfortunately, Justin Hoh and Cheam June Wei's runs came to a halt.
Justin's hopes of making a swift impact on his first competitive return in eight months were dashed after he was defeated 21-11, 23-21 by reigning world junior champion Alwin Farhan of Indonesia.
June Wei battled valiantly against Taiwan's Chi Yu Jen, but it was not enough as he lost 17-21, 21-11, 21-17.
It was also the end of the road for K. Letshanaa in the women's singles after being sent packing 21-18, 21-12 by Line Kjaersfeldt of Denmark.
