# Luck runs out for Jin Wei in women’s singles
# End of the road for V Shem-Wee Kiong in men’s doubles
Age remains just a figure as Lee Chong Wei once again demolished current world champion and world No 1 Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals in the USD700,000 Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open on Friday.
The 35-year-old former world number one Malaysian walked away with a 21-17, 21-9 win in 46 minutes and will next play Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto who shot down third seed and All-England champion Shi Yuqi of China in a three-game thriller 13-21, 21-13, 21-13 in 53 minutes.
The other semi-final will be between India’s K. Srikanth, also a former world No 1, and Japan’s Kento Momota. The fourth-seeded Indian packed off Frenchman Brice Levderdez 21-18, 21-14 while Momota defeated Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-19, 21-11.
With his win over Axelsen, Chong Wei stayed on course for his 12th Malaysian Open title and is expected to ride on his morale-boosting to beat Sugiarto for a place in Sunday’s final.
Chong Wei checked his three-match losing streak to Axelsen in last month’s Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok, Thailand with a 21-9, 21-19 in a group match. The head-to-head count stands 11-3 in Chong Wei’s favour.
Friday’s win means Chong Wei, despite his age and often tagged “old man” of badminton, showed that his days in the shuttle sport are far from over and remains a serious threat to the younger players.
The Malaysian holds a 16-0 lead in the head-to-head count against Sugiarto. The two met twice last year with Chong Wei winning 13-21, 21-10, 21-18 in the Indonesian Open and 22-20, 21-17 in the Japan Open.
Malaysia’s interest in the women’s singles came to an end with the defeat of Goh Jin Wei. The former world junior champion was no match for current world number one and defending champion Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei.
Jin Wei made a bright start against Tzu Ying and even led 6-1 in the first game but faltered as the game progressed and lost 15-21, 15-21 in 36 minutes.
India’s third seed P.V. Sindhu gained revenge for her defeat to Spain’s Carolina Marin in the Rio Olympics final with straight games 22-20, 21-19 win. Sindhu will meet Tzu Ying in the semis.
Malaysia’s hopes in the men’s doubles also came to an end with the defeat of Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in the quarter-finals. The Malaysians lost to the sixth-seeded Japanese pair Takeshi Kamura- Keigo Sonoda 9-21, 17-21 in 36 minutes.
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SELECTED QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles
Lee Chong (Mas) beat Viktor Axelsen (Den) 21-17, 21-9
Kento Momota (Jpn) beat Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) 21-19, 21-11
Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) beat Shi Yuqi (Chn) 13-21, 21-13, 21-13
K. Srikanth (Ind) beat Brice Leverdez (Fra) 21-18, 21-14
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Women’s singles
Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe) beat Goh Jin Wei (Mas) 21-15, 21-15
P.V.Sindhu (Ind) beat Carolina Marin (Spn) 22-20, 21-19
Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) beat Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) 21-15, 21-16
He Bingjiao (Chn) beat Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn0 21-18, 21-18
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Men’s doubles
Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda (Jpn) beat Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) 21-9, 21-17
