Competing in their first Olympics and first men’s doubles match in Rio, Phillip Chew and Sattawat Pongnairat struggled mightily against Nan Zhang and Fu Haifeng, the #4 ranked men’s doubles pairing in the world. The Americans lost thoroughly 21-6 and 21-7, losing the match 2-0. At one point, the Americans were down by fifteen points in each separate match.
Chew and Pongnairat will look to regroup and aim for a victory on Friday morning when they square off against Shem V Goh and Kiong Wee Tan from Malaysia at 7:25 AM ET.