The bottom half of the mixed doubles draw in the KFF Singapore Badminton 2024 second round will not feature seeds after all four pairs dropped out on Wednesday.

Following the meek 21-4 21-15 defeat of seventh seeds Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet to Dejan Ferdinansyah/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja in the first match of the day, two-time champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai, seeded sixth, followed them out of the door. The Thais’ 17-21 21-11 17-21 loss is their second successive one to Robin Tabeling/Selena Piek.

“We had a lot more speed in our legs. Our level was just higher and we are also used to the difficult conditions,” said Piek, who overcame the same opponents in March’s German Open quarterfinals. “At the beginning we were maybe too predictable but we dominated the changes in pace and angles more as the match went on. That was the key.”

With their Paris 2024 Olympic Games spot secured, settling on a good rhythm in Singapore and Indonesia Open is the top priority for the Dutch tandem.

“The more matches we get, the happier I am,” said Tabeling. “We came here for match practice to be sharp again, because in practice it’s just different. The more we get out of these two weeks, the better. And a victory like this always boosts confidence.”

Shortly after, second seeds Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping also bit the dust, losing 13-21 21-13 18-21 to Supak Jomkoh/Supissara Paewsampran. Third seeds Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino, runners-up last year, later joined the casualty list with a 21-13 15-21 17-21 defeat to Yang Po-hsuan/Hu Ling Fang.

Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong (first), Seo Seung Jae/Chae Yu Jung (fourth) and Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin (fifth) are the only seeded mixed pairs left in competition now. Eighth seeds Kim Won Ho/Jeong Na Eun bowed out yesterday.

→ Results (Day 2)

→ Order of play (Day 3)

WHAT OTHERS SAID:

“In training I play like it’s a competition, and when in competition I play like it’s training.” – Paewsampran

“The ultimate goal is the Olympics, so let’s work towards this. Winning this (match) wouldn’t mean anything in Paris, I still have to seize every opportunity and be well prepared.” – Chou Tien Chen after ending Jonatan Christie’s 16-match winning streak

“I’m a little disappointed with his hospitality so far. No, but he’s also busy with his own tournament. I know when we are both free, he will take good care of me. At least I hope so.” – Viktor Axelsen joking good mate Loh Kean Yew has not helped him settle in Singapore