On a day when former world number Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong suffered another demoralising defeat this year there was delight in the Malaysian camp with Goh Jin Wei, Lee Zii Jia and Soong Joo Ven marching into the quarter-finals in the Gwangju Korea Masters on Thurday.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, the sixth seeds also brought some cheer to the men’s doubles by advancing to the quarter-finals to make up for the disappointing exit of third seeds V Shem-Wee Kiong.
Aaron Chia-Wooi Yik hammered out a 21-17, 21-19 win over Koreans Jung Jae-wook-Kim Hwi-tae in 30 minutes to face another Korean hurdle in Choi Solgyu-Seo Seung-jae for a place in the semifinals. Solgyu-Seung-jae defeated another Malaysian pair Chen Tang Jie-Man Wei Chong 21-11, 21-19.
Joo Ven continued his fine run in Gwangju with an inspiring 21-11, 21-11 win over Thai fifth seed Khosit Phetpradap in a 32-minute encounter. He will battle another Thai – Sitthikom Thammasin – in the quarters.
Lee Zii Jia, coming back after a long layoff following a back injury after winning the Chinese Taipei Masters, kept his challenge alive with a 21-18, 21-15 win over Yang Chih Chieh (Chinese Taipei).
For a place in the semis the Malaysian will meet Indonesian newcomer Shesar Hiren Rhustavito who beat compatriot Chico Dwi Wardoyo21-19, 21-14.
Jin Wei, who won the Youth Olympcis gold and then regained the world junior title continued her hot streak in Gwangju with a place in the quarter-finals. Jin Wei, 18, made short work of China’s Zhang Yiman 21-16, 21-15.
She will face Chiang Ying Li of Chinese Taipei, who beat Canada’s Berittney Tam 21-19, 21-14, in the last eight.
In the mixed doubles it was the end of the road for third seeds Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei following a 19-21, 11-21 defeat to Koreans Choi Solgyu-Shin Seung -chan.
Malaysian privateers Arif Abdul Latif-Nur Azriyn Ayub also fell by the wayside. The pair fell to a 21-19, 22-24, 21-17 defeat to scratch pair Kim Sa-rang-Tan Boon Heong (Korea/Malaysia). RIZAL ABDULLAH
