KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 – Malaysian number one Lee Zii Jia strolled into the quarter-finals in the men’s singles at the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000 Yonex Thailand Open when his second-round opponent K. Srikanth of India conceded a walkover due to a calf muscle strain.
The 22-year-old Zii Jia will lock horns with world number two Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei for a place in the last four.
The Taiwanese defeated Indonesia’s Shesar Rhustavito 21-16, 21-19.
Independent shuttler Liew Daren’s campaign came to an abrupt end when he went out in straight games to Hong Kong China’s Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-14, 21-17 in 52 minutes – just a day after pulling off a sensational 21-12, 21-18 win over third-ranked Anders Anderson of Denmark in his opening match.
Malaysia had a good run in the men’s doubles with three pairs making the quarter-finals and is assured of a semi-final berth with Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong taking on Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
V Shem-Wee Kiong outplayed English pair Ben Lane-Sean Vendy 21-11, 21-19 in 39 minutes. Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin also impressed in their 21-19, 21-10 win over Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen-Niclas Nohr.
Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi continued their winning ways at the Impact Arena in Bangkok – taking only 22 minutes to demolish Chew brothers Philip and Ryan 21-12, 21-7. The Malaysians face a tougher hurdle next when they face sixth seeds Lee Yang-Wang Chi-Lin of Chinese Taipei who ousted Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh-Kittinupong Kedren.
In the mixed doubles, only one pair remains in contention – 2016 Rio Olympics silver medal winners Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying. The fifth seeds had no problem in their 21-18, 21-13 win over Dutch pair Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek in 40 minutes.
The win earned the pair a quarter-final clash against top seeds and home favorites Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai who came back from a game down to beat Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 20-22 21-18, 21-12 in a 63-minute clash.
World No 11 Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing fell to a shock 16-21, 15-21 defeat to Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue of France.
Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah kept Malaysia’s hopes alive in the women’s doubles after a 22-20, 21-14 win over Danes Alexandra Boje-Metter Poulsen and will face Indonesian fifth seeds Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu for a place in the semi-finals.
Malaysia’s other pair in the women’s doubles Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen was bundled out when they lost 14-21, 14-21 to Korean third seeds Lee So-hee-Shin Seung Chan.
About The Author
