2025-11-04,KUALA LUMPUR

Goh Jin Wei's brief adventure into mixed doubles with Ng Eng Cheong ended in disappointment on Tuesday, as no Malaysian pair managed to progress to the main draw at the Korea Masters.

The Malaysian duo went down 21-16, 10-21, 21-11 to South Korea's Kim Min Gun-Cho Hye Rin in a 42-minute qualifying clash at the Wonkwang University Cultural and Sports Centre.

Jin Wei, a two-time world junior champion in women's singles, raised eyebrows when she entered the mixed doubles draw, surprising even her coach, Nova Armada.

Nova hopes this will be Jin Wei's final dabble in mixed doubles, urging her to focus solely on women's singles due to ongoing health concerns.

The former world junior star underwent colectomy surgery in 2019 to remove part of her colon.

The operation means she cannot engage in heavy training and needs longer recovery between matches, making participation in multiple events risky.

On Wednesday, world No. 63 Jin Wei will take on Taiwan's world No. 20 Chiu Pin Chian in the first round of women's singles.

In men's singles, world No. 90 Eogene Ewe began with a 21-13, 21-17 qualifying win over Taiwan's Liu Yi but fell in the next round to South Korea's Park Sang Yong, 21-18, 21-19.

World No. 177 Lee Jan Jireh suffered a narrow first-round defeat to South Korea's Cho Hyeon Woo, 21-15, 14-21, 21-9, in 51 minutes.

In men's doubles, the Brunei-Malaysia pairing of Kan Kah Kit and Tan Mun Dick were comfortably outclassed by local duo Han Sa Rang-Jang Joon Hee, losing 21-4, 21-7 in just 19 minutes.