Auckland: Malaysia’s Vivian Hoo Kah Mun/Woon Khe Wei have lived up to their billing when the women’s doubles No. 1 seeds needed only 22 minutes to ease past local pair Daniella Tahuri/Xie Yongshi with a 21-12, 21-10 second victory on Thursday.
Hoo/Woon will play China’s Qiao Shijun/Zhang Shuxian in the quarterfinals.
Another Malaysian women’s pair, Joyce Choong Wai Chi/Goh Yea Ching also cruised into the last eight of the US$120,000 tournament after overcoming another New Zealand pair of Alyssa Tagle/Jacqueline Yu 21-14, 21-5. The unseeded Choong/Goh will take on No. 4 seeds Ayako Sakuramoto/Yukiko Takahata of Japan next.
In women’s singles, No. 1 seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand showed her raging hot form in the second round of New Zealand Open, trashing Jiang Yingzi of Australia 21-2, 21-8 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with No. 6 seed Dinar Dyah Ayustine of Indonesia.
Ho Yen Mei was the only Malaysian women’s singles player remaining in the competition after she pulled off an upset to outlast No. 8 seed Yulia Yosephin Susanto of Indonesia 21-13, 21-16. Ho will battle No. 2 seed Fitriani Fitriani of Indonesia for a spot in the semi-finals.
In men’s singles, No. 1 seed Wang Tzu Wei of Taiwan smashed his way into the last eight with a one-sided 21-15, 21-10 victory over Malaysia’s Chong Wei Feng. Wang sets up a quarterfinal encounter with Anthony Joe of Australia next.
Wang’s teammate, Hsu Jen Hao, played with great patience during some rallies on Thursday to beat China’s Zhou Zeqi 21-13, 21-7. The No. 6 seed Hsu will meet another Taiwanese player Lu Chia Hung on Friday.
