Riem Sokphirom and Soun Ravi are both through to the knockout stages of the Beach Teqball International Cup in Wanning, China.
The duo finished second in their respective preliminary group ties to advance to the knockout stages.
Sokphirom, who won the gold at the SEA Games demonstration event in Phnom Penh two years ago, started off on a strong note, defeating China’s Chen Bingyu 12-9, 12-3 in Group G.
However, the world number 112 was given a rude awakening a much lower ranked Noah Dahlmann of Denmark in his second match.
Dahlmann, ranked only 161, handed Sokphirum a 5-12, 12-11, 9-12 defeat in a closely fought encounter.
Sokphirum will play China’s Ning Yang, who topped Group H in the last 16 on Saturday. The 20-year-old Chinese player is ranked 80th in the world and will start off as the favourite in the tie.
Ravi, meanwhile, will take on Sokpirum’s slayer Dahlmann in the last 16.
Ravi was handed a 7-12, 4-12 by Thailand’s top ranked Uthen Kukheaw in his opening Group C match. However Ravi ensured his place in the knockout stages with a 12-11, 12-6 win over Muhammad Eizlan Rakhil Bin Abd Rahman of Malaysia.
