Home stars suffer early exit at Asian Badminton Championships

WUHAN - Chinese mixed doubles shuttlers Zhang Nan and Li Yinhui suffered a bitter first-round loss to Indonesian duo Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Emanuelle at the 2019 Asian Badminton Championships here on Tuesday.

Faizal and Emanuelle seemed to be more prepared as they surged to an early 10-1 lead and wrapped up the first game 21-11. Zhang and Li managed to take the second 21-19, but squandered four match points and lost the decisive game 25-23.

Two other Chinese pairs Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong, and Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping advanced after three-game fight.

The defending champions Wang and Huang Dongping came from one game behind to overcome Alfian Eko Prasetya and Marsheilla Gischa Islami of Indonesia 20-22, 21-18, 21-17.

"I thought in the second game that I would go back home if I lose, we adjusted much in the cooperation, we will definitely play better in the coming matches," Wang said after the tough win.

The 2018 world's winners Zheng and Huang Yaqiong defeated Malaysia duo Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing 21-12, 14-21, 21-15 to advance.