Chong Wei sneaks into quarter-finals in Canada

* Chong Wei taken to three-sets before winning against Vincent Wong of Hong Kong

* Thien How-Khim Wah also make quarter-finals

For the first time on his come back trail former World No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei was taken to three sets but the Malaysian’s experience was good enough to march into the quarter-finals in the USD50,000 Yonex Canada Open in Calgary on Thursday.

But it was not easy win for Chong Wei who toiled for 67 minutes before overcoming Hong Kong’s fifth seed Vincent Wong Wing Ki 21-17, 20-22, 21-10. Chong Wei is seeded No 14 in Canada.

The Malaysian’s opponent in the quarter-final is India’s B. Sai Praneeth – the man he beat in the semi-finals in last week’s US Open on his way to winning the title. In New York, Chong Wei won 21-9, 21-17 against the Indian.

Sai Praneeth was also fully stretched by Sri Lanka’s Niluka Karunaratne before prevailing with a 14-21, 21-15, 21-15 win. Chong Wei is not expected to face any problem against Sai Praneeth for a place in the last four.

Independent players Hoon Thien How-Lim Khim Wah also stayed alive in the men’s doubles when the Malaysians upset fourth seeds Michel Fuchs-Johannes Schoettler of Germany with a come-from-behind 13-21, 21-18, 21-14 win in 67 minutes.

For a place in the semi-finals Thien How-Khim Wah will face Taiwan’s Ko Chi Cheng-Tzu Wei Wang who won 24-22, 21-12 against Canada’s Jason Anthony Ho-shue-Jonathan Lai.

In the US Open, the Malaysians were shown the exit in the first round.

SELECTED THIRD ROUND RESULTS

Men’s singles

Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat Vincent Wong Wing Ki (Hkg) 21-17, 20-22,  21-10

Ajay Jayaram (Ind) beat Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo (INa) 21-12, 17-21, 21-12

Angus Ng Ka Long (Hkg) beat Joachim Persson (Den) 22-20, 21-14

Marc Zwiebler (Ger) beat Kuo Ching Hung (Tpe) 21-13, 21-14

Sai Praneeth (Ind) beat Niluka Karunaratne (SL) 14-21, 21-15, 21-15

Men’s Doubles (Second Round)

Hoon Thien How-Lim Khim Wah (Mas) beat Michael Fuchs-Johannes Schoettler (Ger) 13-21, 21-18, 21-14

Ko Chi Cheng-Tzu Wei Wang (Tpe) beat Jason Anthony Ho-shue-Jonathan Lai (Can) 24-22, 21-12

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