Pair Keep Hopes Alive

Goh Wei Shem (left) and Lim Khim Wah reach the last eight.

MEN'S doubles Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah are the last Malaysians standing in the Badminton Asia Championships when they advanced to the quarter-finals in Chengdu, China yesterday.
Wei Shem-Khim Wah, playing in their third tournament as a pair, defeated Thailand's Songphon Anugritayawon-Sudket Prapakamol 21-16, 21-10 in 25 minutes to give some relief to the Malaysian camp after the rest bit the dust in the preliminary rounds.

However, they face an uphill task against favourites Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China, who beat Kwon Yi Goo-Cho Gun Woo of South Korea 21-13, 21-13, in the last eight today.

Men's singles Liew Daren crashed out in the third round after losing 21-16, 19-21, 21-19 to China's Du Pengyu in 76 minutes.
Lydia Cheah was also no match for China's Li Xuerui in the women's singles as the former suffered a 21-11, 21-17 defeat in just 29 minutes.

In the women's doubles, Marylen Ng Poau Leng-Woon Khe Wei and Vivian Hoo-Lim Yin Loo found the going tough in the second round.

Top seeds Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin showed Marylen-Khe Wei the way out with a 21-19, 21-11 triumph while Vivian-Yin Loo suffered a 21-14, 21-11 defeat to Duang Anong Arunkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul of Thailand in the second round.

The tournament also saw a major upset in the men's singles when Sho Sasaki of Japan toppled world champion Chen Jin of China 21-12, 20-22, 21-15 in the third round.

Top seed Lin Dan of China also struggled before beating compatriot Wen Kai 18-21, 21-19, 21-16 in 66 minutes to reach the last eight. -- K.M. BOOPATHY


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Daren And Lydia On Song In Chengdu

NATIONAL elite shuttler Liew Daren and Lydia Cheah produced one of their better performances to keep Malaysia's interest alive in the Badminton Asia Championships men's and women's singles in Chengdu, China yesterday.

Daren defeated Wong Wing Ki of Hong Kong, the 13th seed, 23-21, 22-20 in 42 minutes to advance to the third round.

He will play China's Du Pengyu, who beat Kazumasa Sakai of Japan 21-7, 23-21, today.

Back-up player Arif Latif fell in the second round after losing 21-18, 2-12 to Sho Sasaki of Japan while Goh Soon Huat suffered a 21-10, 21-8 defeat to world champion Chen Jin of China.

Lydia, who came through the qualifying rounds, edged Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Maria Kristin Yulianti 21-19, 18-21, 23-21 in 52 minutes.

Lydia will play sixth seed Li Xuerui of China, who beat Chen Hsiao Huan of Taiwan 21-8, 21-16, in the second round.

Tee Jing Yi's run was halted by Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand 15-21, 21-16, 21-12.

In the men's doubles, Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah were the only survivors when they received a free ride into the second round as their opponents Lee Yong Dae-Shin Baek Cheol of South Korea conceded a walkover.

They will play Thailand's Songphon Anugritayawon-Sudket Prapakamol, who overcame Taiwan's Chen Hung Ling-Lin Yu Lang 21-19, 21-19, in the second round.

Fairuzizuan Tazari-Ong Soon Hock crashed out in the first round after losing 21-17, 21-17 to Indonesians Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan while Zakry Latif-Hoon Thien How took Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia to three games, only to lose 21-17, 17-21, 21-16.

Women's doubles Marylen Ng Poau Leng-Woon Khe Wei defeated Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Sen-Vu Thi Trang 21-16, 21-15 and will take on top seeds Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin of Taiwan in the second round.

RESULTS -- (Malaysia unless stated) Men's Singles 2nd rd: Lin Dan (Chn) bt Amar Awad (Syr) 21-4, 21-7; Liew Daren bt Wong Wing Ki (HK) 22-20, 23-21; Chen Jin (Chn) bt Goh Soon Huat 21-10, 21-8; Sho Sasaki (Jpn) bt Arif Latif 21-18 21-12;

Doubles 1st rd: Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah w.o. Lee Yong Dae-Shin Baek Cheol (Kor); Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan (Ina) bt Fairuzizuan Tazari-Ong Soon Hock 21-17, 21-17; Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan (Ina) bt Zakry Latif-Hoon Thien How 21-17, 17-21, 21-16.

Women's Singles, 1st rd: Lydia Cheah bt Maria Kristin Yulianti (Ina) 21-19, 18-21, 23-21; Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (Tha) bt Tee Jing Yi 15-21, 21-16, 21-12.

Doubles, 1st rd: Marylen Ng Poau Leng-Woon Khe Wei bt Nguyen Thi Sen-Vu Thi Trang (Vie) 21-16, 21-15.

Mixed Doubles, 1st rd: Chen Hung Ling-Cheng Wen Hsing (Tai) bt Hoon Thien How-Woon Khe Wei 21-19, 21-9; Xu Chen-Ma Jin (Chn) bt Lim Khim Wah-Lim Yin Loo 21-10, 21-11; Liu Xiaolong-Bao Yixin (Chn) bt Fairuzizuan Tazari-Vivian Hoo 21-19, 21-19. -- K.M. BOOPATHY

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