New Delhi: The Malaysian badminton shuttlers produced encouraging results in the 2022 India Open second round, as Chan Peng Soon/Valeree Siow, Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing, Chen Tang Jie/Peck Yen Wei (mixed doubles), Ng Tze Yong (men’s singles), Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi (men’s doubles), and Vivian Hoo/Lim Chiew Sien (women’s doubles) have all advanced to the quarter-finals on Thursday.
The mixed doubles No. 5 seeds, Chan Peng Soon/Valeree Siow didn’t waste time as they eased past Kashish Sharma/Saruni Sharma 21-6, 21-8 in 19 minutes. Chan/Valeree will face their first real test of the tournament on Friday as they will take on No. 2 seeds – Rodion Alimov/Alina Davletova of Russia in the quarter-finals.
Mixed doubles No. 1 seeds, Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing will meet Konstantin Abramov/Anastasiia Akchurina of Russia while No. 3 seeds Chen Tang Jie/Peck Yen Wei will challenge local shuttlers – No. 8 seeds Venkat Gaurav Prasad/Juhi Dewangan on Friday.
After beating No. 7 seed Tommy Sugiarto in three-set in the first round, Ng Tze Yong needed another three-setter on Thursday to advance to the final 8.
The 21-year-old was working extremely hard for 77 minutes to beat Lucas Claerbout of France 20-22, 21-15, 21-18 in the second round. Ng will play Nhat Nguyen of Ireland for a spot in the semi-finals.
However, another Malaysian men’s singles player – Soong Joo Ven failed to overcome the reigning world champion from Singapore, Loh Kean Yew, losing 12-21, 12-21 in 33 minutes.
With the withdrawal of No. 1 seed Kidambi Srikanth from the tournament due to being tested for COVID-19 positive, Loh is now the overwhelming favorite to win the India Open title.
Meanwhile, men’s doubles No. 3 seeds Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi didn’t break a sweat as they were granted a walkover by Utkarsh Arora/Akshan Shetty of India in the second round. Ong/Teo will play another Indian pair – Ishaan Bhatnagar/Sai Pratheek K in the quarter-finals.
There will be a tough task ahead for women’s doubles No. 5 seeds – Vivian Hoo/Lim Chiew Sien when they battle No. 3 seeds Anastasiia Akchurina/Olga Morozova of Russia in the quarter-finals.
