LEE Chong Wei didn't show any effects of the shoulder injury that had sidelined him for six weeks as he advanced to the second round of the India Open in New Delhi yesterday.
Chong Wei Feng also made a strong claim for his inclusion in the Thomas Cup squad with a fine performance. Chong Wei, the defending champion, beat Hsueh Hsuan Yi of Taiwan 21-8, 21-19 in 34 minutes to set up a meeting with Ajay Jayram of India, who beat compatriot Sourabh Verma 21-15, 17-21, 21-11, today.
Wei Feng outplayed Thailand No 3 Suppanyu Avihingsanon 21-7, 21-16 in 33 minutes for a timely win that could seal his place in the Thomas Cup squad ahead of Arif Latif.
The BA of Malaysia (BAM) coaching and training committee will meet today where it could give the green light to include Wei Feng in the squad. He looks to be a better bet than the inconsistent Arif.
Wei Feng next plays Hans Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark and has a realistic chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the super series event.
Hafiz Hashim also produced one of his better performances this year when he defeated Japan's Kazushi Yamada 26-24, 14-21, 21-13 in 62 minutes to book his berth in the second round.
The win will give Hafiz a psychological advantage should Malaysia meet Japan in the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan on May 20-27 as both players will be playing as third singles for their respective countries. Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, set a semi-final target by men's doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her, cleared the first hurdle when England's Chris Adcock-Andrew Ellis conceded the match when trailing in the second game. Kien Keat-Boon Heong won the first game 21-9 and were leading 7-2 in the second when Adcock-Ellis, semi-finalists in the European Championships over the weekend, conceded a walkover.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will next meet Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan, who were due to play .in the second round.
As expected, Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah had an easy 21-7, 21-15 win against unheralded India pair Gopi Raju-Shivam Sharma. They next play Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano of Indonesia, who beat another India pair Sumeeth Reddy-Hemanagendra Babu 21-12, 21-13, today.
RESULTS, 1st rd (Malaysia unless stated) -- Men's singles: Lee Chong Wei bt Hsueh Hsuan Yi (Tai) 21-8, 21-19; Chong Wei Feng bt Suppanyu Avihingsanon (Tha) 21-7, 21-16; Hafiz Hashim bt Kazushi Yamada (Jpn) 26-24, 14-21, 21-13; Shon Wan Ho (Kor) bt Liew Daren 21-12, 24-22; Doubles: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bt Chris Adcock-Andrew Ellis (Eng) 21-9, 7-2 rtd; Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah bt Gopi Raju-Shivam Sharma (Ind) 21-7, 21-15; Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa (Jpn) bt Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan (Chn) 21-17, 24-26, 21-13.
Women's singles: Neha Pandit (Ind) bt Tee Jing Yi 21-18, 9-21, 21-19; Doubles: Wong Pei Tty-Chin bt Nina Vislova-Valerie Sorokina (Rus) 21-12, 21-14; Shinta Mulia Sari-Yao Lei (Sin) bt Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei 15-21, 21-13, 21-9.
Mixed Doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Yoo Yeon Seong-Jang Ye Na (Kor) 21-19, 13-21, 22-20.
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