BIRMINGHAM: Malaysian Open champions Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah learned the hard way that they still have a long to go after crashing out in the first round of the All-England.
The pair who only made the quarter-finals of the German Open last week, were once again brought down to earth by the experience of Danish duo Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen, losing 21-23, 11-21 on Wednesday.
It was their third meeting in as many months with the Danes, having lost to them in the Korean Open, but beating them at the Malaysian Open the following week.
Despite a good start to the match, V Shem-Khim Wah’s concentration cost them as they allowed Boe-Mogensen to find a way back into the game before nicking the first 23-21.
That was a massive confidence blow for the world No. 14 and they never recovered, surrendering tamely in the second game.
“The first game was really a waste and we should have taken it. Unfortunately luck just wasn’t on our side when it mattered most,” said Khim Wah.
“After that we just lost our confidence and the Danes sensed it and picked up their attack.”
V Shem admitted that they were still a work in progress and it will take some time for them to reach the highest level.
“In terms of ability we can match them but they were just better on the day,” said V Shem.
“In the end, a defeat is a defeat and it means that we’re just not good enough yet. But that is nothing to be ashamed of because we gave our best.”
Boe-Mogensen will go on to meet Indonesia’s Gideon Markus Fernaldi-Markis Kido in the second round.
Meanwhile, defending champions Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan were shockingly dumped in the first round, which will certainly add to China’s doubles woes.
The world No. 6 were a pale shadow of themselves as unheralded Danish pair Anders Skaarup Rasmussen-Kim Astrup Sorensen destroyed them with a 21-12, 21-9 win, to set up a second round clash with Koreans Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol.
“That was the perfect match. We were looking forward to a good game, but we didn’t expect ourselves to play that well,” said Sorensen.
The men’s singles also noted several upsets with fourth seed Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark) and seventh seed Du Pengyu (China) both falling by the wayside to South Korea’s Son Wan-ho and home favourite Rajiv Ouseph respectively.
In the women’s doubles, top Malaysian pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei survived a rally by English pair Heather Olver-Kate Robertshaw to win 21-10, 21-18.
The SEA Games champions will go on to meet Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi with an eye on avenging their defeat in the German Open last week.
While sisters Ng Hui Lin and Hui Ern never got into the game, retiring with Japan's Misaka Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi leading just 1-0 because of injury.