Malaysian shuttlers last tasted a twofold victory at the Singapore Open six years back in 2008.
There is a promise of something better for another double celebration after the men's doubles pair, Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong exited their groove to join world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the quarter-finals of the Superseries competition.
World No. 9 Thien How and Wee Kiong, who have been battling to discover their balance throughout the most recent month, remained enduring to prevail over a quick striking Maneepong Jongjit and Nipitphon Puangpuapech of Thailand 21-17, 21-18 in the second round on Thursday.
The duo had fallen flat on their faces a couple times since taking over the country’s No. 1 spot from their seniors, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong a month ago.
They were blown away in the opening round of the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold in Pasir Gudang and at the Indian Open in New Delhi.
On Friday, they will take on the perilous sixth seeds Lee Sheng-Mu and Tsai Chia-Hsin of Taiwan, who have a talent of demolishing any top match on their day.
Thien How and Wee Kiong will be out to keep their winning streak against the Taiwanese in the wake of beating them, en route to winning their first career title at the Macau Open a year ago.
While the triumph of Thien How and Wee Kiong was an average shock, the remarkable execution of Chong Wei was unusual.
Fresh from winning the Indian Open, the 31-year-old Chong Wei did not show any hint of weakness after blazing the court for an exciting 21-11, 21-6 win over China's Chen Yuekun.
Chong Wei’s next opponent will be the unseeded 23-year-old, Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand, whom he beat in straight games in all of their last eight matches.
Lee Chong Wei won the men's singles while Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari bagged the men's doubles crown at the 2008 Singapore Open.
India's K. Srikanth pulled off the only troubled in the men's singles when he cut out a magnificent 18-21, 21-15, 21-8 win over World Championships bronze medallist Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam only to set up a match with Hong Kong's Hu Yun.
It was however all over for Malaysia in the mixed doubles and women’s doubles events.
Malaysia still have high hopes with their country’s top mixed pair Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying yet the duo ran out of steam against China's Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin, losing 17-21, 21-12, 12-21.
Regardless of their lost, Liu Ying was still euphoric, this being her first competition with Peng Soon following two months of separation.
Liu Ying said, “It was sad to lose but I had the satisfaction of playing my best. I was not troubled by my knee problems. We just encountered some problems at the front court but with more matches together, Peng Soon and I should get it right.”
“The outing here has given me some positive signs on how much I can push myself.
Peng Soon and I are looking forward to the Commonwealth Games (in Scotland in July) with more confidence,” Liu Ying added.
The pair is set to play next at the Japan Open in June.
Meanwhile, Lee Meng Yean lost both her matches on Thursday - going down the mixed doubles with Ong Jian Guo and losing a match with Lim Yin Loo in the women’s doubles.
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