ROUND OF 16 (10.00am) =>
https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=820BC412-0F19-4861-81CC-85895DA4F30D
First round of main draw saw many upsets, a normal circumstances in Premier tournament where all best players are taking part.
Reigning World Junior Champion Chen Yufei scored big headline when she defeated prominent name, Pusarla V. Sindhu in three games. Sindhu who won IND Superseries last Sunday got unexpected outing here, losing in very early round. Chen will take on local hopeful, former WJC Goh Jin Wei, this tie will be televised later on the evening. Other seeded player who crumbled yesterday, the off-form He Bingjiao lost meekly to Cheung Ngan Yi, 13-21 / 12-21. The frontrunners, Tai Tzu Ying, Carolina Marin, Sung Ji Hyun, Ratchanok Intanon passed their rivals comfortably while Akane Yamaguchi fought hard to dispose Indian jewel Saina Nehwal in rubber-sets. Marin is surrounded by Thai shuttlers in her path to semifinal, Nitchaon Jindapol and most likely former World Champion Intanon tomorrow. Yamaguchi-Nozomi Okuhara rematch may happen once again in quarterfinal. On top-half of draw, Sung Ji Hyun-Sun Yu clash is possible last eight scenario and strong contender Tai TY will face either Chen YF or Goh JW.
Badminton greats, eleven-time champion Lee Chong Wei and his long-time foe Lin Dan had trouble to check into last sixteen. Lee was trailed behind 13-17 at second game against Rajiv Ouseph before he's back to rhythm to seal the match, 21-18. Home hero is expected to overcome Hu Yun today. Lin experienced tougher match to eliminate the stubborn Sai Praneeth B. in 71 minutes of play and the explosive Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk will await him today. The Olympic Champion Chen Long looks on his superb form, he destroyed Wei Nan in single digit scoreline, 21-4 / 21-9 and will see younger compatriot Huang Yuxiang next. All Hong Kong affairs will pit Angus Ng Ka Long against Vincent Wong Wing Ki, both of them involved in tight contest to eliminate two rising stars, Wang Tzu Wei and Shi Yuqi respectively. Viktor Axelsen continues his winning streak, outclassed Liew Daren with 21-12 / 21-13 and will face Indian opponent Ajay Jayaram next. Two qualifiers, Brice Leverdez and Jeon Hyeok Jin will face off to eye quarterfinal berth, Leverdez downed 6th seed Tian Houwei while Jeon edged out his senior Lee Dong Keun.
Shocking exit for home favourite, Goh VS/Tan WK who didn't get it right and lost to HKG pair Or CC/Tang CM but good result was produced by home back-ups in MD discipline, Ong YS/Teo EY stunned the established pair Conrad/Kolding in three games, Chooi KM/Low JS also through to second round. Last week beaten finalist, Pratama/Suwardi couldn't maintain consistency, sent packing by Thai combination Isara/Phuangphuapet. It's bad day for Malaysia mixed doubles pairs, Rio silver medalists Chan PS/Goh LY lost three sets to Indonesian underdogs Subaktiar/Widjaja, a setback also happened in last match of the day, Tan KM/Lai PJ also failed to clear opening hurdle, Kazuno/Kurihara.
LIVE TV COVERAGE (Court 1, 05.00pm) :
1) Nitchaon Jindapol (THA) v Carolina Marin (ESP)
2) Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen (DEN) v Kenta Kazuno/Ayane Kurihara (JPN)
3) Lee Chong Wei (MAS) v Hu Yun (HKG)
4) Chen Yufei (CHN) v Goh Jin Wei (MAS)
5) Liu Cheng/Zhang Nan (CHN) v Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA)