INDEPENDENT shuttler Arif Latif led six Malaysians into the men’s singles second round at the Indonesian Masters in Palembang yesterday while top seed Cheam June Wei reached the third round in the Malaysia International Under-19 Championships in Kota Kinabalu.
Arif Latif, the seventh seed, overcame a first game blemish to beat Indonesia’s Briand Christofle 21-23, 21-6, 21-11 to set up a second round match with Singapore’s Huang Chao, who defeated home player Julian Arbitama 21-8, 21-15.
The 25-year-old is drawn to meet second seed and former world meet runner-up Sony Dwi Kuncoro in the quarter-finals.
Liew Daren also won his opening match, overcoming Indonesia’s Rajid Patriawan 21-16, 21-16 and faces Fikri Ihsandi Hadmadi of Indonesia today.
The other Malaysian winners were former world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli, Soong Joo Ven Tan Kian Meng, Soo Teck Zhi and Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub.
In Kota Kinabalu, June Wei defeated compatriot Andrew Liw 11-5, 11-8, 11-1 in the boys’ singles second round yesterday.
June Wei plays teammate Soh Wooi Yik, who edged Malaysian Tan Vi Hen 10-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-10.
Also in the third round is second seed R. Satheishtharan, who overcame South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk 11-5, 11-6, 11-4. The Malaysian plays Taiwan’s Chang En Chia today.
In the girls’ singles, Desiree Siow of Malaysia caused the biggest upset by edging top seed and compatriot Lee Ying Ying 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7. She next plays Eng Sin Jou. By Ajitpal Singh