# Malaysians fall in straight sets to China’s Haifeng-Zhang Nan in Seoul
# World champions Ahsan-Hendra beaten in men’s doubles
# Chen Long given tough fight by Son Wan-ho
# Japanese youngster Momota eases into semi-finals
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Malaysian independent pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong failed to reach the semi-finals in the USD600,000 Viktor Korean Open when they slumped to a 16-21, 12-21 defeat at the hands of China’s Fu Haifeng-Zhang Nan in the quarter-finals on Friday.
This is the second time the former All England and Asian Games champions failed to go beyond the last eight. They were also beaten in the quarter-finals in the Australian Open.
With their defeat no Malaysians will feature in Saturday’s semi-finals after Malaysia’s No 1 pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong was beaten by reigning world champions Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia in the second round on Thursday.
Ahsan and Hendra, ranked No 2 in the world, were also bundled out of the Korean Open when the second seeds went down 17-21, 15-21 to the unseeded Korean pair of Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang in 40 minutes.
In the men’s singles top seed and world champion Chen Long of China progressed to the last four after tough battle with Korea’s Son Wan-ho before prevailing 25-23, 21-13 after 69 minutes.
The world No 1 will face Japan’s Kento Momota in the semis. The Japanese youngster stopped Hong Kong’s Wei Nan 21-13, 21-16 in 41 minutes.
India’s unseeded Ajay Jayaram is also having a good run in Seoul to reach the semifinals after a titanic three-set battle with Japan’s Shoi Sasaki which lasted 65 minutes before winning 21-19, 16-21, 21-16.
The Indian will play Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen for a place in the final. Tien Chen edged China’s rising star Tian Houwei 21-19, 21-19.
The former internationals, once ranked No 1 in the world but now at No 55, will meet another Chinese pair Fu Haifeng-Zhang for a place in the semifinals, The Chinese fourth seeds fought a three-set battle before prevailing 21-18, 17-21, 21-12 over Korean qualifiers Choi Soi-gyeu-Kim Jee-hwan.
But it was home favourite Son Wan Ho who gave the home fans plenty to cheer when he bundled out last week’s Yonex Japan Open winner Lin Dan in straight sets.
The unseeded Korean ran out 21-10, 21-15 winner over the five-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion in 45 minutes.
Top seed and world champion Chen Long stayed on course in Seoul with a 21-14, 21-17 win over compatriot Wang Zhengming.
Third seed Kento Momota kept Japan’s flag flying with a hard fought 21-15, 14-21, 21-13 win over Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto in a 67 minute battle.
India’s Ajay Jayaram also advanced after a 17-21, 21-15, 21-15 win over Hong Kong’s Vincent Wong Wing Ki.
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Selected Results
Men’s singles (Quarter-Finals)
Chen Long (Chn) beat Son Wan-ho (Kor) 25-23, 21-13
Kento Momota (Jpn) beat Wei Nan (Hkg) 21-13, 21-16
Ajay Jayaram (Ind) beat Sho Sasaki (Jpn) 21-19, 16-21, 21-16
Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) beat Tian Houwei (Chn) 21-19, 21-19
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Men’s doubles
Fu Haifeng-Zhang Nan (Chn) beat Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) 21-16, 21-12
Kim Gi-hyung-Kim Sa-rang (Kor) beat Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan (Ina) 21-17, 21-15
Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) beat Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol (Kor) 21-13, 21-16
Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong (Kor) beat Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa (Jpn) 21-14, 22-20
