Was the opening set win a sign of potential or a false start?

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Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik’s opening-set win looked more like a short-lived start than a consistent breakthrough

Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik won the opening set 23-21 against world No. 18 Taiwanese duo Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen, but they were eliminated in the first round of the Japan Open 2026 by losing the next two sets 17-21 and 16-21. The match at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium ended with the Malaysian pair unable to carry their early momentum past the initial set.
They lost two straight sets after taking the first
The scoreline was 23-21, 17-21, 16-21, with the Malaysian pair taking the first set before dropping the second and third. The immediate pattern in the match was that the opening lead did not translate into control of the rest of the contest.
This was their first time partnering in a national pairing
The pairing was formed for the first time by head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, meaning Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik had not previously been combined as a fixed team. In that context, the result shows they could compete strongly at the start, even though they could not sustain that level through the full match.
The Taiwanese duo ended the match in straight sets
Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen were ranked world No. 18 and advanced by defeating Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik in three sets. Winning the second and third sets 17-21 and 16-21 indicates the Taiwanese pair were able to respond after conceding the opening set.
Other Malaysian exits and advances occurred in the same event
At the Japan Open 2026, another Malaysian men’s doubles pair, Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong, also exited in the first round after losing 17-21, 14-21 to home favourites Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi. At the same time, national mixed doubles pairs Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie advanced to the second round after winning their respective matches.

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Was the opening set win a sign of potential or a false start?

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