# Zulfadli and fail to reach the quarter-finals
# V Shem-Wee Kiong and Kien Keat-Boon Heong reach the last eight
# Peng Soon-Liu Ying stay alive in mixed doubles
Â
Birthday boy Zulfadli Zulkifli turned 23 on Wednesday but he got no birthday present from South Korean No 1 Son-Wan-ho who denied the Malaysian a place in the quarter-finals in the USD120,000 Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok.
The Korean ace swept to a 21-17, 21-14 win in 49 minutes in a third round match to advance to the last eight. In the processWan-ho gained sweet revenge over the Malaysian, a former Asian and World junior champion.
In last month’s Indian Open Grand Prix Gold in Hyderabad, Zulkifli beat Wan-ho, the 12th ranked player in the BWF rankings, in a second round match.
Another independent shuttler Tan Chun Seang was also shown the exit in the third round when he fell to a 17-21, 21-18, 9-21 defeat to ninth seeded Jeon Hyeok-jin in a three set battle that lasted 49 minutes.
Amid the gloom in the singles there was cheer in the doubles with two Malaysian pairs reaching the quarter-finals in the men’s doubles. Also in the quarter-finals are the women’s doubles pair of Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei and the mixed doubles pair of Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.
Malaysia’s top doubles pair of Goh V Shem-Tan Weei Kiong, winners of the Indian Open GP Gold, made shortwork of Thailand qualifiers Inkarat Apisuk-Sutichon Pol-gul 21-11, 21-17 to earn a quarter-final match against top seeds and favourites Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan.
The Indonesians defeated the scratch Indonesian-Thailand pair of Lukhi Apri Nugroho-Pakkawat Vilailak 21-14, 21-16.
Professionals Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong were too strong for Koreans Choi Solgye-Kim Jae-hwan to win 21-16, 21-15 in 39 minutes.
In the women’s doubles Vivian Hoo-Khe Wei (seeded No 4) were involved in a marathon 77 minute struggle before overcoming Indonesia’s Nuraidah Tiara Rosalia-Pradipta Rizki Amelia 17-21, 21-14, 21-19.
For a place in the semi-finals the Commonwealth Games champions will play Thai hopes Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Malaysia are also alive in the mixed doubles with seventh seeds Peng Soon-Liu Ying advancing to the quarter-finals with a 21-10, 21-8 win over Rian Swstedian-Apriani Rahayu of Indonesia.
Â
SELECTED RESULTS
MEN’S SINGLES (Third Round)
Son Wan-ho (Kor) beat Zulfadli Zulkifli (Mas) 21-17, 21-14
Jeon Hyeok-jin (Kor) beat Tan Chun Seang (Mas) 21-17, 18-21, 21-9
Hu Yun (Hkg) beat Boonsak Ponsana (Tha) 21-18, 21-12
Â
MEN’S DOUBLES (Second Round)
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) beat Inkarat Apisuk-Sutichon Pol-gul (Tha) 21-11, 21-17
Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) beat Choi Solgyu-Kim Jae-hwan (Kor) 21-16, 21-15
Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang (Kor) beat Puavaranukroh Dechapol-Kedren Kittinupong (Tha) 21-14, 21-18
Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan (Ina) beat Lukhi Api Nugroho-Pakkawat Vilailak (Ina/Tha)) 21-14, 21-16
Â
WOMEN’S DOUBLES (Second Round)
Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei (Mas) beat Noraidah Tiara Rosalia-Pradipta Rizki Amerlia (Ina) 17-21, 21-14, 21-19
Â
MIXED DOUBLES (Second Round)
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (Mas) beat Rian Swastedian-Apriani Rahayu (Ina) 21-10, 21-8
