Moving on: Chen Tang Jie (front) and Toh Ee Wei will meet Hong Kong’s Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Ng Tsz Yau in the quarter-finals. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: A banana skin in the form of Indonesian pair Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana awaited in the Singapore Open but world No. 4 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik did not slip-up this time.
Indonesians have often been the bane for Aaron-Wooi Yik but they remained focused to outplay former All England champions Shohibul-Bagas 21-18, 21-17 to reach the quarter-finals yesterday.
The Malaysian pair, who dropped a rung to world No. 4 on Tuesday, played with great control against Shohibul-Bagas.
Wooi Yik said that the key to their victory was to dominate the front court play and they managed to achieve this task well in the second round.
“This is the first time that we have played them but we respect them as they are a quality pair,” said Wooi Yik.
“Our main focus is the start of each rally where the Indonesians are good at and we didn’t want to be hasty in making early mistakes too.
“We also wanted to gradually gain our form and go step by step as there are so many tournaments coming up.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik will play another Indonesian pair Leo Rolly-Danial Marthin, whom the Malaysians have lost twice in their last three meetings, in the last eight today.
Leo-Daniel, who flexed their muscles by beating South Korea’s Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang 21-14, 21-17 in the second round.
They have beaten Aaron-Wooi Yik in the Malaysian Masters two weeks ago.
“We have to be careful at the front court as this is the area where all Indonesian pairs have got the advantage,” said Aaron.
“Every match is important during this Olympic Games qualifying period as every win and loss will affect our ranking. So, we need to give our best and go for a win.”
Independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also advanced to the last eight after beating Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan of Indonesia 21-17, 21-18 in just 26 minutes.
However, Malaysian Masters runners-up Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were shown the exit after losing 18-21, 21-18, 13-21 to Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang of China.
In the mixed doubles, Badminton Association of Malaysia pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei stormed into the last eight with a 21-17, 21-17 win over Dutch pair Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek.
They will meet Hong Kong’s Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Ng Tsz Yau, who overcame Independent combination Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 14-21, 21-16, 21-9, for a place in the semi-finals.
Malaysians unless stated
Men’s singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Ng Tze Yong 21-18, 22-24, 21-13.
Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana (Ina) 21-18, 21-17; Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi bt Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan (Ina) 21-17, 21-18; Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn) bt Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-18, 18-21, 21-13.
Mixed doubles: Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Ng Tsz Yau (HK) bt Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 14-21, 21-16, 21-9; Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek (Ned) 21-17, 21-17.
