The Thai top seeds Kunlavut Viditsarn and Pattarasuda Chaiwan remained hot in the men’s and women’s singles but Malaysians kept pace by easing into Round Four of the World Junior Badminton Championships in Jogjakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday.

Malaysia, led by Leong Jun Hao, after his disappointing below par performance in the 3-1 defeat to China in the mixed team final, was hardly troubled by Vietnam’s Nguyen Hai Dang and won his third round match 21-12, 21-16 in 28 minutes.

The fourth seeded reigning Asian Junior Under-19 champion’s fourth round opponent on Wednesday is Englishman Johnnie Torjussen and the 18-year-old from Kuala Lumpur is aware that the battle is just beginning. Torjussen Marcus Barth of Norway 23-25, 21-17, 21-14. Joining him is 12th seed Sim Fong Hau.

Goh Jin Wei, the 2015 junior world champion, was equally impressive in her 21-12, 21-16 victory over Canada’s Katie Ho Shue. Joining the 17-year-old Jin Wei were compatriots Eng Sin Jou and Eoon Qi Xuan.

Sin Jou upset set 11th seed Maria Delcheva in three games to prevail 21-16, 19-21, 21-19.

However, it was the end of the road for Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (men’s singles) and Lim Mei Chen (women’s singles).

Aidil was a disappointment in his straight games 12-21, 16-21 defeat to Brazilian Fabrico Farian Mei Chen lost a three-game battle 17-21, 21-18, 12-21 to South Korea’s Park Ga-eun in 42 minutes.

Also advancing in the men’s singles second seed Lakshya Sen of India and third Lee Chia Hou of Chinese Taipei.

Advancing with Pattarasuda and company were second seeds Yeo Jia Min of Singapore, third seed Gregoria Mariska of Indonesia and reigning Under-19 Asian Junior champion Han Yue of China.

Pattarasuda, like Kunlavut, retained their Asian Junior Under-17 titles in Yangon, before coming to Yogjakarta for the world junior championships. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH

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