KUALA LUMPUR: The stronger the opponents, the better for national men's doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri.
In fact, the world No. 27 are bent on reaching the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Masters, despite having to clear the second round on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Hon Jian-Haikal slogged hard before downing local independent pair Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong 22-20, 21-19 in the first round, setting up a date with compatriots and last year's runners-up Man Wei Chong Tee Kai Wun.
Seventh seeds Wei Chong-Kai Wun had earlier dispatched Taiwan's Chiang Chien Wei-Wu Hsuan Yi 22-20, 21-12.
"Personally, I prefer going up against stronger opponents because the pressure is not on us, and we get to enjoy ourselves on court.
"It's just like when we won our first title (Syed Modi International) in India. We played against Japan's Akira Koga-Taichi Saito, and we performed.
"I also told my partner that we might meet China's He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu if we make the quarters. They knocked Malaysia out in the Thomas Cup this year, so I would like to get our revenge," said a fired-up Haikal.
Hon Jian admitted that going up against their national teammates will not be an easy task.
"It's going to be tough because we train together all the time and know each other's game very well.''
All in all, it was a good day at the office for the Badminton Association of Malaysia's (BAM) men's doubles.
Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who soared 17 spots to No. 47 in the world rankings this week, defeated China's Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han 21-16, 21-12, and will take on world No. 12 Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan of Taiwan next.
Asian Championships runners-up, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani lived up to their billing as fifth seeds, comfortably brushing aside independents Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong 21-11, 21-19.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who moved up a rung to No. 14 in the world, will play the winners of the first-round match between Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Hong Kong's Law Cheuk Him-Yeung Shing Choi, in the second round.
In the women's doubles first round, national duo Go Pei Kee-Low Yeen Yuan saw off Ukraine's Polina Buhrova-Yevheniia Kantemyr 21-15, 21-15 to set up a second round match with eighth-seeded Australians Setyana Mapasa-Angela Yu.
