Lee Ying Ying enroute to the quarter-final. — Photo by Othman Ishak
SIBU: Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s singles fizzled out after its last remaining player Chong Wei Feng crashed out in the last 16 as the Victor Far East Malaysia Masters entered its third day at Sibu Indoor Stadium yesterday.
The former BAM player lost in straight sets 15-21, 21-23 to Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.
Chong surged to an early lead at 4-2 before Anthony took charge at 12-9 and widened the lead to 19-15 to wrap up the match.
In the second set, a defiant Chong tried a comeback and, buoyed by the noisy home crowd support, his prospects looked bright for a rubber set when he led 20-18.
But Anthony forced a deuce and took the game at 23-21.
The hunt for the men’s singles title is now expected to be hotly contested between tournament top seed Ng Kah Long of Hong Kong, 5th seed Lee Hyun Il of South Korea and 7th seed Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia.
Ng was in his element as he swept aside Indonesia’s Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 21-14, 21-14 while Lee beat Chen Chun Wai of Chinese Taipei 21-14, 21-7.
Tommy easily upended Lee Chuiuk Yu of Hong Kong 21-10, 21-17.
Malaysia, however, remain in contention in three other categories – mixed doubles, women’s singles and women’s doubles.
The mixed doubles pair of Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, the tournament 2nd seed, easily put down former BAM player Mohd Arif Abdul Latif-Rusydina Antardaya Riodingin 21-6, 21-12 to advance to the quarter-finals.
The mission to lift the mixed doubles title was effectively passed to them after the withdrawal of national No. 1 pair and Olympic silver medalists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying due to injury.
Two Malaysia women’s doubles pairs also qualified for the quarter-finals.
Lim Yin Loo-Yap Chen Wen beat compatriots Teoh Mei Xing/Amelia Alicia Anscelly 21-12, 21-11 while Vivian Hoo-Chow Mei Kuan swept aside Yeung Nga Ting-Ng Tsz Yau of Chinese Taipei 21-9, 21-9 to advance.
For the women’s singles, Lee Ying Ying sprang a surprise when she beat No. 4 seed Hsu Ya Ching of Chinese Taipei 21-8, 21-8 to enter the quarter-finals.
She will meet No. 5 seed Yip Pui Ing of Hong Kong.
“It’s not going to be an easy battle against Yip but I will try my best to keep Malaysia’s challenge burning,” Lee said.
Top seed and world No. 9 Saina Nehwal easily disposed Hana Ramadini of Indonesia 21-17, 21-12 to enter the last eight.
Malaysia’s women’ singles No. 1 Goh Jing Wei and former national champion Sonia Cheah failed to advance.