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Chong Wei Survives As Hafiz, Wei Feng Crash Out

NEW DELHI, April 26 (Bernama) -- Datuk Lee Chong Wei was the sole survivor in the Indian Open Badminton Championships as three Malaysian players were shown the exit in the men's singles competition.

Chong Wei, the world number one, playing his first major tournament since suffering a shoulder injury during the All England championships in England, moved into the quarterfinals while Chong Wei Feng and Mohd Hafiz Hashim crashed out.

"Now, everything is okay but I still have a bit of phobia and being careful when I want to smash," he told reporters when asked about his injured shoulder.

Defending champion and the top seed here, Chong Wei dashed the hopes of the local fans by beating Ajay Jayaram (India) 21-16, 15-21, 21-5 in three sets and will face either Indonesian ace Taufik Hidayat or China's Wang Zhengming.

"I think he sustained the same focus and intensity throughout the match while I fluctuated. Chong Wei's advantage is also his fitness," said Ajay, when asked on the difference between the way both of them played.

"He moves very well and has the best defence, while I am on the attacking side," he said, adding that he enjoys all the games played against Chong Wei.

Wei Feng lost to Denmark's Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, 13-21, 21-8, 12-21, while Hafiz was crushed 18-21, 15-21 by world number four, Chen Jin of China.

In the men's doubles, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong cruised through to the quarterfinals with a 21-18, 21-18 win over Japan's Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa.

Kien Keat, no doubt took the limelight, getting loud cheers and applauds when he handled back-to-back smash bouts from the opponent by almost lying down on the court and ended it with a point.

Second men's doubles pair Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah also advanced after beating Indonesia's Ahsan Mohammad and Septano Bona, 13-21, 21-19, 21-18.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong will meet Indonesia's Angga Pratama-Ryan Agung Saputra while Shem-Khim Wah are expected to meet Indonesia's Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan in the quarterfinals.

Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying beat Japan's Noriyasu Hirata-Miyuki Maeda, 21-16, 21-13 to advance and most likely face Thailand's prolific pair Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam in the quarterfinals.

Women's doubles pair Goh-Liu Ying-Lim Yin Loo lost to South Korea's Ha Jung Eun-Kim Min Jung, 21-13, 21-19.

-- BERNAMA

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