# World No 1 Akane Yamaguchi in shock second-round defeatĀ
# Five-time world champion Lin Dan also falls in the second roundĀ
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Malaysia’s top gun in the men’s singles Lee Zii Jia woke up from losing the first game to move into the third round with a 12-21, 21-14, 21-15 win over China’s Lu Guang Ju in the World Championships in Basel, Switzerland on Tuesday.
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The Malaysian will cross paths with No 8 seed Kenta Nishimoto of Japan for a place in the quarter-finals in his maiden World Championships. Nishimoto knocked out Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese Taipei in an energy-sapping 25-23, 13-21, 21-16 win.
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However, there was a disappointment for Malaysia in the mixed doubles. Hopes of an all-Malaysia third-round match to be assured of a place in the last eight disappeared when No 12 seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie could not sustain their momentum against Takuro Hoki-Wakana Nagahara.
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The Japanese came from behind to snatch a 19-21, 27-25, 21-16 win in 66 minutes to advance to the third round. They will face Malaysia’s reigning Rio Olympics silver medal winners and 5th ranked Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying who had a rough ride before prevailing 21-18, 19-21, 21-16 against Canada’s World Joshua Hurlburt Yu-Josephine Wu.
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Meanwhile, there was a major shock in the women’s singles when top-ranked and No 1 seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan crashed out in the second round – losing in straight games 21-14, 21-18 in 40 minutes.Ā Yamaguchi, who drew a bye in the first round is reportedly nursing a back injury.
China’s five-time world champion Lin Dan also crashed out in the second round. The Chinee legend came unstuck against India’s H.S. Prannoy who won 21-11, 13-21, 21-7. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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