Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin progressed to the next round of the Malaysia Open after winning their first round matches at the Malawati Stadium yesterday.
The World No. 3 spent 33 minutes when he defeated Japan’s Takuma Ueda 21-11, 21-8 in the first round of the Celcom Axiata tournament. He will face Son Wan-ho in the second round after the South Korean brought down Goh Soon Huat 21-16, 5-21, 21-13.
National champion Iskandar Zainuddin fought valiantly to defeat Indonesia’s Ginting Anthony 21-16, 21-19 in a match that lasted 45 minutes. He was handed a tricky opponent in the second round as he comes face-to-face with World No. 5 Jan Ø. Jørgensen today. Should Iskandar win his match against Jan Ø. Jørgensen, he may face Lin Dan in the quarter-finals. The Chinese powerhouse defeated Chong Yee Han 21-10, 21-15 in the first round yesterday.
The women’s singles category saw Tee Jing Yi defeat Indonesia’s Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto in less than half an hour in the first round. She will face World No. 1 Carolina Marin today.
Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Teo Kok Siang-Hoon Thien How advanced to the second round of the men’s doubles event after winning their matches.
Vivian Hoo Kah Mun-Woon Khe Wei were the only victors in the women’s doubles category when they won the German pair of Isabel Herttrich and Birgit Michels 21-17, 21-14. They will face Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi later today.
Other posts by Prashant Kharbanda
