By : K. M. Boopathy
LEE Chong Wei and Hafiz Hashim advanced to the third round of the Taiwan Open in convincing fashion on a day where seven out of 12 Malaysians crashed out.
Chong Wei, the second seed, beat Indonesia's Ari Yuli Wahyu 21-10, 21-16 in the first round and later beat Yousuke Nakanishi of Japan 21-10, 21-12.
Hafiz avoided any setbacks when he edged Japan's Koichi Saeki 21-18, 21-19 in his opening match and later registered a 21-9, 21-14 win over Liao Sheng Shiun of Taiwan.
Chong Wei should not face any problem overcoming Ng Wei of Hong Kong today to secure his quarter-final berth but Hafiz will face a difficult task when he meets Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.
Hafiz's only consolation is that Taufik struggled to beat Thailand's Poompat Sapkulchananart 26-24, 19-21, 21-18 yesterday but it remains to be seen if Hafiz can take advantage of his rival's average form.
Wong Choong Hann and Yeoh Kay Bin confirmed Malaysia a quarter-final spot as they will play each other in the third round.
Choong Hann beat Thailand's Pakawat Vilailak 21-17, 21-15 and Hsueh Hsuan Yi of Taiwan 21-14, 21-11 yesterday.
Kay Bin did well to upset Singapore's Ronald Susilo 21-18, 15-21, 23-21 in the first round and earned his third round spot with a 21-15, 21-14 win over Lee Chen Yen of Taiwan.
Also through to the third round is Sairul Amar Ayub who beat Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand 15-21, 21-17, 21-14 before overcoming Netherlands' Dicky Palyama 21-9, 21-12 in the second round. Sairul will meet Shoji Sato of Japan next.
Roslin Hashim was only senior player to fall in the first round when he was beaten 21-13, 21-18 by Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand.
Project 2010-2012 player Lim Kenn put on a decent performance against top seed Chen Hong of China before losing 23-21, 23-21 while another back-up player Chan Kwong Beng fell 8-21, 21-14, 23-21 to Chan Yan Kit of Hong Kong.
Park Sung Hwan of South Korea showed Tan Chun Seang the exit with a 21-10, 21-13 win while Hong Kong's Ng Wei eliminated Liew Daren with a 21-14, 21-13 victory.
National juniors Arif Latif and Lim Fang Yang managed to clear the first round but found the going tough in the second. Arif defeated Korean Lee Cheol Ho 21-18, 21-14 in his opening match but was beaten 21-9, 21-10 by Simon Santoso of Indonesia, while Lim Fang Yang, who beat Philippines' Kennevic Asuncion 19-21, 21-15, 21-13, lost 22-20, 21-19 to Sato.
RESULTS – (Malaysia unless stated) Men's singles 1st rd: Chen Hong (Chn) bt Lim Kenn 23-21, 23-21; Chan Yan Kit (HK) bt Chan Kwong Beng 21-8, 14-21, 23-21; Hafiz Hashim bt Koichi Saeki (Jpn) 21-18, 21-9; Sairul Amar Ayub bt Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (Tha) 15-21, 21-17, 21-14; Lim Fang Yang bt Kennevic Asuncion (Phi) 19-21, 21-15, 21-13; Wong Choong Hann bt Pakawat Vilailak (Tha) 21-17, 21-15; Yeoh Kay Bin bt Ronald Susilo (Sin) 21-18, 15-21, 23-21; Park Sung Hwan (S Kor) bt Tan Chun Seang 21-10, 21-13; Arif Latif bt Lee Cheol Ho (S Kor) 21-18, 21-14; Boonsak Ponsana (Tha) bt Roslin Hashim 21-13, 21-18; Ng Wei (HK) bt Liew Daren 21-14, 21-13; Lee Chong Wei bt Ari Yuli Wahyu (Ina) 21-10, 21-16.
2nd rd: Hafiz Hashim bt Liao Sheng Shiun (Tai) 21-9, 21-14; Taufik Hidayat (Ina) bt Poompat Sapkulchananart (Tha) 26-24, 19-21, 21-18; Yeoh Kay Bin bt Lee Chen Yen (Tai) 21-15, 21-9; Wong Choong Hann bt Hsueh Hsuan Yi (Tai) 21-14, 21-11; Sairul Amar Ayub bt Dicky Palyama (Ned) 21-9, 21-12; Shoji Sato (Jpn) bt Lim Fang Yang (Tai) 22-20, 21-19; Simon Santoso (Ina) bt Arif Latif 21-9, 21-10; Lee Chong Wei bt Yousuke Nakanishi (Jpn) 21-10, 21-12.
Women's singles 1st rd: Wong Mew Choo bt Jang Soo Young (S Kor) 23-21, 21-15; Julia Wong bt Jang Soo Young (S Kor) 23-21, 21-15.
Mixed doubles 1st rd: Howard Bach-Eva Lee (US) bt Tan Wee Kiong-Woon Khe Wei 21-14, 21-10; Fang Chieh Min-Cheng Wen Hsing (Tai) bt Lim Khim Wah-Ng Hui Lin 21-19, 25-23; Alroy Tanama Putra-Koon Wai Chi (HK) bt Chan Peng Soon-Amelia Anscelly 21-15, 21-19; Jonas Rasmussen-Lena Frier Kristiansen (Den) 21-15, 21-17.
