Daren and Jii Zia scalp higher-ranked players to march on
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a day the old and young men’s singles shuttlers starred for Malaysia at the Taiwan Open.
Seasoned-campaigner Liew Daren and SEA Games-bound Lee Zii Jia stunned higher-ranked players to march into the quarter-finals of the second-tier Grand Prix Gold at the Taipei Arena yesterday.
The 29-year-old Daren dumped third seed Hsu Jen-hao of Taiwan 21-17, 21-17 in the third round to reach his first quarter-final this season.
The world No. 46 will take on sixth seed Jeon Hyeok-jin of South Korea for a place in the last four.
World No. 108 Zii Jia then ousted 16th seed Siril Verma of India 21-12, 21-16 in just 28 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash against Thailand’s Khosit Phetpradab today.
Zii Jia and Khosit could meet in the KL SEA Games in August.
“It feels good to upset a higher-ranked player and reach the quarter-finals. I don’t want to stop here,” said the 19-year-old Zii Jia, whose previous best was a semi-final finish at the Thailand Masters in March.
“The Thai player is seeded sixth and experienced. It will be a good test for me ahead of the SEA Games.”
Former international Goh Giap Chin couldn’t make it a triple joy for Malaysia in men’s singles when he lost 15-21, 11-21 to Lin Yu-hsien of Taiwan.
Malaysia also had mixed fortunes in women’s singles when Goh Jin Wei marched on while Ho Yen Mei lost 1921, 17-21 to Suzuki Haruko of Japan in the second round.
Jin Wei defeated Kim Yang-im of South Korea 21-6, 21-9 to earn a matchup against Pai Yu-po of Taiwan.
World Championships-bound Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen stayed in the hunt in men’s doubles after ousting fourth seeds Lin Shang- kai- Yang Po-hsuan of Taiwan 21-17, 21-18.
They will meet Choi Solgyu-Kim Jaehwan of South Korea next.
Koreans also stand in the way of third seeds Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen in women’s doubles quarter-finals.
Yin Loo-Cheng Wen, who blew away Wu Yi Ting-Yuen Sin Ying 21-16, 21-17 in the second round yesterday, will face Indonesian Masters champions Chae Yoo-jung-Kim So-yeong next.