# Birmingham delight as Malaysian pairs score stunning upsets to reach last eight
# V Shem-Wee Kiong to battle Kien Keat-Boon Heong for place in semi-finals
# Defending champion and top seed Chen Long ousted in men’s singles
# Lin Dan marches on after win over Sho Sasaki
Malaysia are assured of a place in the men’s doubles semi-finals in the prestigious USD550,000 Yonex All-England Badminton Superseries Premier event in Birmingham, England.
National No 1 Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong made it all-Malaysian affair in the quarter-finals after coming back from a set down to upset fifth seeds Chai Biao-Hong Wei of China 17-21, 24-22, 23-21 in a closely fought second round which lasted 73 minutes.
Earlier former champions Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong worked their magic in another three-setter before prevailing 21-15, 15-21, 21-17 in their shocking win over reigning world champions Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia, the second seeds.
It was sweet revenge for the Malaysians who had lost to the Indonesians in the 2013 Australian Open.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong won the All-England in 2007 and beating Mohd Ahsan-Hendra is a big boost for the privateers who are chasing a ticket to this year’s Rio Olympics in August.
Meanwhile in another big upset in the men’s singles defending champion and No 1 seed Chen Long of China was sent packing by his close friend and teammate Xue Song who won in straight sets 21-19, 21-17 in 49 minutes.
However, two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion Lin Dan continued his march after losing the first set 20-22 to Japan’s Sho Sasaki. The Chinese ace won the next two sets with comparative ease 21-6, 21-8 in a 64 minute match.
In the quarter-finals on Friday the Chinese will face third seed Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark who won 21-13, 21-16 against Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long in 35 minutes.
Also through to the last eight is Japanese hope Kento Momota (4th seed). Momota outplayed India’s K. Srikanth 21-10, 21-13 in 40 minutes to advance and will face China’s Tian Houwei. Houwei beat rising Indian star Sameer Verma 10-21, 21-12, 21-19.
Sai Praneeth of India who upset Malaysia’s Datuk Lee Chong Wei (2nd seed), in a first round match was shown the exit by Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus who won 12-21, 21-11, 21-16.
Selected second round results
Men’s singles
Xue Song (Chn) beat Chen Long (Chn) 21-19, 21-17
Hans Kristian Vittinghus (Den) beat B. Sai Praneeth (Ind) 12-21, 21-11, 21-16
Marc Zwiebler (Ger) beat Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) 21-14, 21-16
Kento Momota (Jpn) beat K. Srikanth (Ind) 21-10, 21-13
Viktor Axelsen (Den) beat Son Wan-ho (Kor) 21-19, 22-24, 21-12
Tian Houwei (Chn) beat Sameer Verma (Ind) 10-21, 21-12, 21-19
Lin Dan (Chn) beat Sho Sasaki (Jpn) 20-22, 21-6, 21-8
Jan O Jorgensen (Den) beat Angus Ng Ka Long (Hkg) 21-13, 21-16
Men’s doubles
Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) beat Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan (Ina) 21-15, 15-21, 21-17
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) beat Chai Biao-Hong Wei (Chn) 17-21, 24-22, 23-21
