East Java: Daren Liew struggled but moved nearer to his potential second title of the year by defeating Thai player Pannawit Thongnuam 21-14, 18-21, 21-8 on Thursday at the Indonesia International Challenge. Liew claimed the confidence boosting Polish Open triumph in March 2015.
The world No. 80 Daren Liew was outplayed in the second set by his world No. 247 rival at Sudirman Badminton Hall in East Java. But Daren Liew recomposed himself and broke in the decider to fight back from a set down to beat Thongnuam in 70 minutes. Liew will take on second seed Jeon Hyuk-jin of Korea in the men’s singles quarter-finals.
Soo Teck Zhi, Tan Chun Seang, and women’s singles No. 3 seed Tee Jing Yi were all safely through to the quarter-finals after contrasting victories on Day 3.
Former Asian Junior Champion Soo Teck Zhi remained on track to meet No. 1 seed Firman Abdul Kholik in the quarter-finals after he defeated Lee Hong Je 23-21, 21-15 on Thursday. Soo enjoyed a 2-0 career meeting records over Lee after Thursday’s win.
Malaysia’s independent shuttler Tan Chun Seang was pushed to the limit by home shuttler Wibowo Setyaldi Putra on Thursday. Tan had to work hard to saw off a valiant effort from the Indonesian to book his place in the quarter-finals with a 17-21, 21-11, 21-15 victory.
In women’s singles, Tee Jing Yi continued her march to a quarter-final showdown against No. 6 seed Rusydina Antardayu Riodingin of Indonesia after she defeated Yeo Jia Min of Singapore with 21-12, 21-18 in the last 16. Two other Malaysian women’s singles shuttlers namely Sannatasah Saniru, and Lee Ying Ying have bowed out before the quarter-finals.
The Malaysian doubles department suffered a huge blow on Thursday, where none of the women’s doubles or men’s doubles pair able to advance to the quarter-finals.
