KUALA LUMPUR: Revitalised national men's doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri extended their good form by clearing a tricky opening hurdle at the Hong Kong Open, beating seasoned South Koreans Kim Gi Jung-Ki Sa Rang today.

The world No. 46 duo prevailed 21-11, 16-21, 21-18 against the two-time World Championships bronze medallists at the Hong Kong Coliseum to set up an all-Malaysian clash with Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King.

It will be a rematch of the Macau Open semi-final in July, which Arif-Roy King won en route to lifting the Super 300 title.

Hon Jian-Haikal will be fired up to exact revenge and underline their comeback after an injury-hit spell that sidelined them for the first four months of the year.

Twice Super 300 winners, Hon Jian-Haikal once climbed as high as world No. 18 before injuries to both players derailed their progress.

Now fit again, they will be motivated to close the gap on Arif-Roy King in the national pecking order, where both pairs are regarded as the next in line behind world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and No. 6 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.

Meanwhile, there was more good news in the men's singles as world No. 43 Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin joined Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh in the last 16.

The former BAM shuttler earned his place after ousting Taiwan's world No. 26 Chi Yu Jen 15-21, 21-18, 21-15.

Aidil will next take on world No. 10 Christo Popov of France in their first ever meeting.

An upset win would see him reach the quarter-finals of a Super 500 or higher event for the first time, bettering his run to the last 16 of the Thailand Open earlier this year.

In the women's singles, however, world No. 38 K. Letshanaa was unable to build on her recent promise as she fell 24-22, 21-16 to Canada's Zhang Wen Yu in the first round.

It was a disappointing result for the 22-year-old, especially after pushing former world champion P.V. Sindhu to the limit at the World Championships in Paris.