Kuan Beng Hong beat Wong Choong Hann 21-16, 17-21, 21-11.
WORLD No 1 Lee Chong Wei’s title bid in the Macau Open was made easier with a free ride into the semi-finals on a day where Kuan Beng Hong secured a rare victory over veteran Wong Choong Hann yesterday.
Chong Wei, the top seed, received a walkover from former World No 1 Chen Hong of China in the last eight.
He will now meet Indonesia’s Alamsyah Yunus, who beat Chan Yan Kit of Hong Kong 21-17, 21-18, in the semi-finals.
Beng Hong, in danger of losing his spot in the national senior squad, defeated Choong Hann 21-16, 17-21, 21-11 in 47 minutes in the quarter-finals.
Beng Hong has tough semi-final encounter against former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, who edged compatriot Tommy Sugiarto 23-21, 21-15, today.
Julia was staring at the exit when she trailed 10-3 in the third game but 12 points on the trot took her to 15-10 and the Malaysian never looked back after that.
Julia has a fighting chance of advancing to the final as she will face Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong, who beat Japan’s Kaori Imabeppu 21-16, 21-12, in the last four.
Struggling men’s doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong advanced to the semis after beating China’s junior pair Chai Biao-Liu Xiaolong 21-14, 21-12 in 26 minutes.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong, the defending champions, will play Indonesian back-up pair Fernando Kurniawan-Lingga Lie next.
Also through were former national pair Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng who defeated China’s Sun Junjie-Xu Chen — the pair who eliminated Kien Keat-Boon Heong from the China Masters last week — 21-18, 21-15 in 29 minutes.
They will meet second seeds Fang Chieh Min-Lee Sheng Mu in the last four today. The Taiwan pair beat Malaysians Ong Jian Guo-Goh Wei Shem 21-10, 21-11 in the quarter-finals.
Results — (All Q-Finals) Men’s Singles: Lee Chong Wei (Mas) w.o. Chen Hong (Chn); Alamsyah Yunus (Ina) bt Chan Yan Kit (HK) 21-17, 21-18; Kuan Beng Hong (Mas) bt Wong Choong Hann (Mas) 21-16, 17-21, 21-11; Taufik Hidayat (Ina) bt Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) 23-21, 21-15.
Doubles: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) bt Chai Biao-Liu Xiaolong (Chn) 21-14, 21-12; Fernando Kurniawan-Lingga Lie (Ina) bt Chang Feng Chin-Tseng Chung Lin (Tai) 18-21, 21-18, 21-15; Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng (Mas) bt Sun Junjie-Xu Chen (Chn) 21-18, 21-15; Fang Chieh Min-Lee Sheng Mu (Tai) bt Goh Wei Shem-Ong Jian Guo (Mas) 21-10, 21-11.
Women’s Singles: Julia Wong (Mas) bt Wang Lin (Chn) 22-20, 18-21, 21-13; Yip Pui Yin (HK) bt Kaori Imabeppu (Jpn) 21-16, 21-12.
Doubles: Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli bt Fong Chew Yen-Mooi Hing Yau (Mas) 21-7, 21-16; Ng Hui Lin-Woon Khe Wei (Mas) v Nicole Grether-Charmaine Reid (Ger-Can) 21-14, 21-12.
Mixed Doubles: Xu Chen-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Lim Khim Wah-Woon Khe Wei (Mas) 21-13, 21-14; Chai Biao-Wang Xiaoli (Chn) bt Mak Hee Chun-Vivian Hoo (Mas) 21-12, 21-19.
