Debutant Qi Xuan joins Jin Wei in fifth round
PETALING JAYA: Debutant Eoon Qi Xuan made it a sensational day for Malaysia when she joined Goh Jin Wei in the girls’ singles fifth round at the World Junior Championships in Indonesia.
The 17-year-old Qi Xuan upset 13th seed Huang Yun-hsuan of Taiwan 20-22, 21-18, 21-12 in the fourth round at the Among Rogo Stadium in Yogjakarta yesterday.
But she faces a daunting task against top seed Pattarasuda Chaiwan of Thailand for a place in the quarter-finals.
“I started well but then mistakes crept in. I then mixed it up with some rallies and attacking shots and it worked for me in the end,” said Qi Xuan, who will be sitting for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) next month.
“I reached the semi-finals in the Asian Junior Championships (in July in Jakarta) and I hope to keep the momentum going here,” said Qi Xuan.
Jin Wei, the 2015 world junior champion, whipped Catherine Choi of Hong Kong 21-14, 21-13 to set up a fifth-round clash with Choirunnisa Choirunnisa of Indonesia.
Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao is the only Malaysian left standing in the boys’ singles. He will face Leo Rossi of France today and should make it to the quarter-finals.
Malaysia will also be represented in the last 16 of the doubles events.
Kwek Yee Jian-Man Wei Chong and Chia Wei Jie-Tee Kai Mun reached the boys’ doubles fourth round while Pearly Tan Koong Le-Toh Ee Wei also stayed in contention in the girls’ doubles.
Malaysia also have three pairs — Chang Yee Jun-Koong Le, Ng Eng Cheong-Ee Wei and Wei Chong-Tan Sueh Jeou — in the mixed doubles in the fourth round.