28 Jun V Shem-Wee Kiong shock third seeds to join Chong Wei and Jin Wei in last eight

National men’s doubles, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong played out an entertaining three setter against China’s Liu Cheng-Zhang Nan to advance to the quarterfinals of the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2018.

V Shem-Wee Kiong started brightly by taking the first set 21-14 before dropping the second 21-23 to the World No.2 ranked pair and eventually rallying to clinch the rubber set 21-17 in front of a loud home crowd.

After this, the Olympic silver medallists will hope to continue their fine run in the competition when they face sixth seeds, Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda from Japan tomorrow.

Another men’s doubles pair, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi’s progress to the quarterfinals was halted after going down 15-21 21-17 16-21 to another Japanese pair, Hiroyuki Endo-Yuta Watanabe.

Earlier, national women’s singles player, Goh Jin Wei continued to defy odds as she

Datuk Lee Chong Wei in action during his second round match against Lee Hyun Il of South Korea during the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2018 at Axiata Arena earlier today.

battled back from a set down to claim a surprise 15-21 21-18 23-21 win over 7th seed Ji Hyun Sung from South Korea.

The world No.32 was ecstatic with the victory and thanked her supporters after managing to pull such an incredible comeback against a top 10 ranked player.

She said, “This is an unexpected victory for me. When the scores were tied 19-19 in the third game, the home crowed really rallied me on to clinch the win.”

“Like I said before, this tournament is not to simply gain experience, instead I am here to challenge myself and go as far as possible”, added the 18 year old.

This is Jin Wei’s best performance so far since her participation in the BWF World Tour and will look to cause another upset when she faces off with World No.1 Tai Tzu Ying from Taiwan in the last eight tomorrow.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei was also in devastating form as he breezed through with a convincing 21-7 21-7 win over South Korea’s Lee Hyun Il. The three time Olympic silver medallist was in control the entire match and only needed 29 minutes to seal a ticket to face Denmark’s Victor Axelson in the quarters.

“Even though I have won this tournament many times, I am still eager to get my 12^th title so my record can be a benchmark for the next generation.”

“Victor is the current World’s best player, but this is my ‘home’ and I will not give in easily. I always fight till the end for my country,” he said after the match.

Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles category, Malaysia’s young pair of Lim Chiew Sien-Tan Sueh Jeou were shown the exit door after crashing 15-21 15-21 to Indonesia’s Della Detiara Haris-Rizki Amelia Pradipta.

In the same category, Vivian Hoo-Soong Fie Cho also crashed to a straight sets (14-21 9-21) defeat to 5th seeds from Japan, Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi.

The quarterfinal matches will be played from 3 pm onwards at Axiata Arena, KL Sports City, Bukit Jalil.

Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2018 Round 2 Results (28 June 2018)

*results involving Malaysian players only

Men’s Singles:

Lee Chong Wei (MAS) bt Lee Hyun Il (KOR) 21-7 21-7

Men’s Doubles:

Goh V Shem (MAS)/Tan Wee Kiong (MAS) bt Liu Cheng (CHN)/Zhang Nan (CHN) 21-14 21-23 21-17

Hiroyuki Endo (JPN)/Yuta Watanabe (JPN) bt Ong Yew Sin (MAS)/Teo Ee Yi (MAS) 21-15 17-21 21-16

Marcus Fernaldi Gideon (INA)/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA) bt Aaron Chia (MAS)/Wooi Yik Soh (MAS) 21-18 30-28

Tan Boon Heong (MAS)*/Yoo Yeon Seong (KOR) bt Takuto INOUE (JPN)/Yuki Kaneko (JPN) 21-15 23-21

Women’s Doubles:

Della Destiara Haris (INA)/ Rizki Amelia Pradipta (INA) bt Chiew Sien Lim (MAS)/Sueh Jeou Tan (MAS) 21-15 21-15

Misaki Matsutomo (JPN)/Ayaka Takahashi (JPN) bt Vivian Hoo (MAS) Soong Fie Cho (MAS) 21-14 21-9

Women’s Singles:

Goh Jin Wei (MAS) bt Sung Ji Hyun (KOR) 15-21 21-18 23-21

Pusarla V. Sindhu (IND) bt LeeYing Ying 21-8 21-14

*Independent player