Japan's reigning world champions Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara crashed out of the badminton women's doubles at the Tokyo Games on Thursday in a 21-14, 14-21, 28-26 quarterfinal defeat to South Korean pair Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong.
Matsumoto and Nagahara rallied from a game down to even a pulsating contest at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, but the third seeds proved to be the architects of their own downfall, failing to convert several match points in a nerve-shredding final game.
"It hurts that we weren't able to show what we are made of at the end," said Nagahara. "I feel bad for all the people that have given us their support."