China Open: Close Shave for World Champions
Recently-crowned world champions Seo Seung Jae and Kang Min Hyuk came through a torrid test against Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin to make the quarterfinals of the VICTOR China Open 2023 on Thursday.
· DEV SUKUMAR
The Koreans had to fight every inch in the third game against the back-in-form Lee/Wang. The Olympic champions had the edge at the death, holding match points on three opportunities, but Seo and Kang dug in and eventually converted at their first opportunity, coming away winners at 21-19 17-21 25-23 in 69 minutes.
Seo also survived a close call with Chae Yu Jung in mixed doubles. The fifth seeds were taken the distance by Kohei Yamashita/Naru Shinoya, who led 19-17 in the third before the Koreans scrambled home taking the last four points.
Seo/Kang run into Indonesia’s Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana, while Seo/Chae are up against top seeds Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong, who will be looking to avenge their defeat in the World Championships final.