Kuala lumpur: National men’s doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King created an upset at the Hong Kong Open today when they defeated third seeds Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen from Denmark to advance to the second round. The Malaysians, ranked world 20th, defeated the fourth-ranked pair 21-19, 23-21 in 42 minutes.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, awaiting Wan Arif-Roy King in the second round on Thursday will be either compatriots Choong Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal Nazri or South Korean pair Kim Gi Jung-Kim Sa Rang, who will meet in the first round tomorrow.

Also advancing to the second round are 2025 World Championship runners-up Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who cruised past Hong Kong’s Chu Wing Chi-Yu Yi Kiu 21-9, 21-9 in just 25 minutes. Making their Hong Kong Open title defence, world women’s doubles No. 2 Pearly-Thinaah will face either the Chinese pair of Chen Qing Chen-Keng Shu Liang or Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilyssa Trias Puspitasari from Indonesia to chase a quarter-final slot.

Other results involving Malaysians today included Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun defeating Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong 21-19, 21-12; Goh Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing defeating Fan Ka Yan-Yau Mau Ying (HKG) 21-15, 17-21, 21-12; and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani defeating Xie Haonan-Zeng Wei Han (CHN) 21-12, 11-21, 21-19.