The Malaysian contingent got off to a lukewarm start in their individual events of the 2021 SEA Games, which began on Thursday, with several shuttlers progressing to the quarter-finals.

Women’s doubles pair Cheah Yee See-Cheng Su Hui were the first shuttlers in action as they were made to slug it out for 71 minutes before overcoming Vietnamese pair Pham Thi Khanh-Van Anh Than 21-17, 13-21, 21-14.

Cheah-Cheng next take on a Laos or Philippines pair in the last eight.

Lee Shun Yang, who lost the deciding match against Thailand in the men’s team final on Wednesday, easily won his first round match against Phonesack Sokthavy 21-5, 21-4, but Lee has a tough task against second seeded Thai Kunvalut Vitidsarn in the quarter-finals.

Siti Nurshuhaini recovered from an abysmal defeat in the team event to overcome Singapore’s Jaslyn Hooi 21-19, 21-11 to book a date against top seed Pornpawee Chochuwong.

In the mixed doubles, second and fourth seeds Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah easily won their duels to check into the last eight.

Chen-Peck beat Cambodian pair Vannthoun Vath-Sok Somalyta, while Hoo-Cheah overcame Laotian duo Daomixay Vorlasing-Vilakone Kommanivanh 21-7, 21-7.

Chen-Peck next play Singapore’s Terry Hee-Tan Wei Han, while Hoo-Cheah are up against Thai pair Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn-Laksika Kanlaha.

Meanwhile, Man Wei Chong-Kai Wun Tee were forced to concede a walkover in their men’s doubles matches, after Man sustained a kneecap injury against Thailand.

In the men’s singles, despite winning the first game, Jacky Kok lost for the second time against top seeded Loh Kean Yew, bowing out 21-18, 15-21, 11-21.

Go Pei Kee-Yap Ling lost 21-10, 14-21, 18-21 in the women’s doubles, while Loh Zhi Wei suffered a straight game loss in the women’s singles.

Wan Junaidi Arif-Muhammad Haikal pushed top seeds Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Erich to the wire before losing 13-21, 21-17, 14-21.