KUALA LUMPUR: World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei led two men’s doubles pairs and a mixed doubles pair into the quarterfinals of the French Open at the Pierre De Coubertin Stadium in Paris.
According to the tournament website www.yonexifb.com, in the second round played today, Chong Wei beat Ajay Jayaram from India 21-18, 21-18 in just 45 minutes and set up a date with Boonsak Ponsana from Thailand who had to work hard to overcome K. Srikanth from India 15-21, 21-18, 21-15 in three sets.
He was joined by men’s doubles pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong who easily disposed Micheal Funchs/Johannes Schoettler from Germany 21-19, 21-19 in straight sets.
Kien Keat/Boon Heong who are the fourth seed in the tournament will next face Chris Adcock/Andrew Ellis from England after the duo edged South Korean pair Kim Ki Jung/Kim Sa Rang, 22-20, 19-21, 21-18 in a three-set thriller.
Another Malaysian pair, Hoon Thien How/Tan Wee Kiong who advanced to the quarterfinals will face top seeds in the tournament, Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong of South Korea. Earlier, Thien Hoe/Wee Kiong had beaten Chan Yun Lung/Lee Chun Hei from Hong Kong 21-18, 21-18 in straight sets.
Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying fought hard to overcome England’s Chris Langrinde/Heather Olver 21-18, 21-17 to book their berth in the quarterfinals.
Peng Soon/Liu Ying will now face an uphill task after drawing top seeded Chinese pair Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) did not send any players in the women’s singles or doubles. — BERNAMA