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Badminton: Lee Chong Wei And Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong Advance To Quarterfinals

JAKARTA, June 24 (Bernama) -- World number one singles player Datuk Lee Chong Wei and the world's top men's doubles pair of Khoo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong made it to the quarterfinals of the Indonesian Open Badminton championships after beating their respective opponents in the second round.

Chong Wei easily overcame Marc Zwiebler from Germany 21-9, 21-14 in 28 minutes, although his knee was still bandaged due to injury.

On Friday, he will face the player whom he had beaten in the All-England final in March, Kenichi Tago, from Japan, who had beaten Indian shuttler Gurusaidatt Rajah Manuri Venkata, 11-21, 21-18 and 21-11 Thursday.

"Tago certainly has the experience because we have met at the All-England, so I don't take him lightly," said Chong Wei.

The possibility of the Malaysian ace meeting Sony Dwi Kuncoro looks brighter because Sony had also beaten Dutch player, Dicky Palyama in straight sets 21-14, 21-17.

However as previously, Chong Wei did not want to think too far ahead as he wanted to concentrate on the match Friday.

Meanwhile, Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong will proceed to the quarterfinals after being given a walk-over by the pair from China Taipei, Liao Min Chun/Wu Chun Wei who did not turn up for their match against the Malaysians.

In the quarterfinals, Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong will meet the Japanese pair of Hirokatsu Hashimoto/Noriyasu Hirata, who defeated another Malaysian pair, Chow Pak Chuu/Hong Chien Hun in the rubber set.

Although they won the first set, the young Malaysian pair could not match their Japanese opponents and lost 21-17, 19-21 and 15-21 in 46 minutes.

The third Malaysian pair of Gan Teik Chai/Tan Bin Shen lost to the Indonesian pair of Muhammad Ahsan/Bona Saptono who had the home crowd solidly behind them at the Istora Senayan to beat the Malaysians 21-18 and 21-14.

The world's top doubles pair of Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan from Indonesia had a rude shock when they were beaten by Chieh Min Fang/Sheng Mu Lee from China Taipei 25-27, 21-16 and 21-10.

This will give Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong an edge to lift the trophy.

-- BERNAMA

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