Hylo Open: Pang Ron-Pei Jing and Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting advance as Chia-Teo retire in Saarbrücken

Malaysia's shuttlers have made a mostly positive start at the Hylo Open in Saarbrücken, Germany. French Open runners-up Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing cruised into the mixed doubles last 16 on Wednesday, a day after women's pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting and men's pair Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King won their openers. The one setback came when Chia Weijie and Teo Ee Yi retired midway through their match against England's second seeds.

Pang Ron-Pei Jing keep rolling

The independent mixed doubles pair continued their strong run in Europe by reaching the second round of the Super 500 event at the Saarlandhalle. They opened against the Dutch pair Joep Strooper and Sterre Bang.

It is a third straight week of good results for the Malaysians, who reached the Denmark Open semi-finals and then finished runners-up at the French Open last Sunday. Before the tournament, Pang Ron told The Star that he was enjoying every game as it comes, treating each one as though it could be his last.

Women's doubles pair through in 35 minutes

On Tuesday, Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting needed only 35 minutes to beat England's Abbygael Harris and Estelle Van Leeuwen 21-12, 21-17. Their reward is a second-round meeting with Hong Kong's eighth seeds, Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam, who beat Taiwan's Lin Chih-Chun and Yang Chu Yun 21-13, 21-9.

Mixed day for the men's doubles

Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King, ranked 74th in the world, beat Germany's Malik Bourakkadi and Kenneth Neumann 21-11, 21-12 in 28 minutes. The pair, who won the Arctic Open in Finland earlier this month after being reunited by men's doubles head coach Herri Iman Pierngadi, are playing their fourth straight European event after second-round exits at the Denmark Open and the French Open. On Thursday they meet either Indonesia's top seeds Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani or England's Alex Green-Zach Russ.

It was a less happy day for Chia Weijie and Teo Ee Yi. Facing England's second seeds Ben Lane and Sean Vendy, the Malaysians lost the first game 14-21 and retired when trailing 7-11 in the second, about 20 minutes into the match. No reason for the retirement was given in initial reports.

Bouncing back from Paris

The Saarbrücken win came only days after a sobering French Open final. On Sunday, 25 October, Pang Ron and Pei Jing were beaten 21-10, 21-13 in 37 minutes by China's top seeds and world No. 1 pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping. Even so, reaching that final was a landmark: it was the first time a Malaysian pair had made the French Open mixed doubles final.

The Malaysians, ranked 31st in the world, have now strung together a China Masters runners-up finish in September, the Denmark Open semi-finals and the Paris final. That run has made them one of the form pairs of the European leg, and it gives them a solid platform as they push for more ranking points before the season ends.

The tournament runs until Sunday, 1 November.

Key takeaways

• Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing reached the Hylo Open mixed doubles last 16 on Wednesday.
• Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting beat England's Harris-Van Leeuwen 21-12, 21-17 and next face Hong Kong's eighth seeds.
• Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King beat a German pair 21-11, 21-12 and may meet the top seeds on Thursday.
• Chia Weijie-Teo Ee Yi retired at 14-21, 7-11 against England's second seeds.
• Pang Ron-Pei Jing arrived after losing the French Open final 21-10, 21-13 to world No. 1s Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping.

FAQ

Where is the Hylo Open being played? At the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrücken, Germany, from 27 October to 1 November. It is a BWF World Tour Super 500 event.

Who do Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting play next? Hong Kong's eighth seeds, Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam, in the second round.

Why did Chia Weijie and Teo Ee Yi stop playing? They retired while trailing 14-21, 7-11 against Ben Lane and Sean Vendy. Initial reports did not give a reason.

Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail, New Straits Times, The Star, Lumi News, Badminton World Tour, SNE Sports, Free Malaysia Today