SHAH ALAM (Malaysia): Asian shuttlers made up the bulk of players to advance to the main draw of the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open Superseries Premier which begins here tomorrow. Leading the charge into the men's singles competition were Indonesia's Christie Jonathan and three Malaysians – Iskandar Zulkarnain, Chong Yee Han and Goh Soon Huat.
Christie was in tremendous form as he swept past Japan's Kenta Nishimoto 21-8, 21-12 in about half an hour. He will face Taiwan's Chou Tien Chien, the seventh seed in the first round tomorrow.
Iskandar charged into the main draw after storming past Scotland's Alistair Casey 21-7, 21-4 to set up a first round opening tie against Singapore's Anthony Ginting. "This year has been good for me and I hope to be more consistent. My aim is to make it to the last 16 here," said Iskandar who has just recovered from a foot injury. "I don't feel any pain and hope I will have a good run this week."
Asian players also had a great run the men's doubles qualifying competition today. The duo from the Philippines, Estanislao Ronel and Vivas Paul Jefferson turned in a smashing performance to de defeat Hong Kong's Or Chin Chung-Tang Chun 21-17, 14-21, 22-20 in 48 minutes. They will face Japan's Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa tomorrow.
The other men's doubles qualifiers who advanced today were Malaysia's Mohd Razif Abdul Latif-Muhd Hafiz hAshim dan Hoon Thein How-Teo Kok Siang. Razif dan Hafiz took 26 minutes to overcome the Peter Gabriel Magnave and Alvin Morada from the Philippines 21-19, 21-19.
In the mixed doubles, South Korea's Yoo Yeong Soong and Chang Ye Na lived up to expectations to advance to the first round when they defeated the young Malaysian pair of Ong Yew Sin-Peck Yin Wei in straight sets 21-8, 21-11.
The women's singles saw Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto from Indonesia move on after getting past Malaysia's Lim Yin Fun 21-13, 22-20.
Selected results
Men's singles: Cristie Jonatan (Ina) bt Kenta Nishimoto (Jpn) 21-8, 21-12; Iskandar Zulkarnain (Mas) bt Alistair Casey (Sco) 21-7, 21-4, Chong Yee Han (Mas) bt Kenichi Tago (Jpn) 16-21, 21-10, 21-19.
Men's doubles: Darren Isaac Devadass-Tan Jinn Hwa (Mas) bt Aji Firmansyah-Hendra Tandjaya (Ina) 14-21, 21-26, 7-7 rtd, Hoon Thien How-Teo Kok Siang (Mas) bt Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (Mas) 21-15, 21-16; Ronel Estanslao-Paul Jefferson Vivas (Phi) bt Or Chin Chung-Tang Chun Man (Tai) 21-17, 14-21, 22-20, Razif Abdul Latif-Hafiz Hashim (Mas) bt Peter Gabriel Magnaye-Alvin Morada (Phi) 21-19, 21-19
Women's singles: Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto (Ina) bt Lim Yin Fun (Mas) 21-13, 22-20.
Mixed doubles: Hee Yong Kai-Tan Wei Han (Sin) bt Lee Yong Dae-Lee So Hee (S.Kor) 16-21, 25-23, 21-16, Yoo Yeon Seong-Chang Ye Na (S.Kor) bt Ong Yew Sin-Peck Yan Wei 21-8, 21-11, Liu Yuchen-Tang Jinhua (Chn) bt Wong Fai Yin-Shevon Jamie Lai (Mas) 21-18, 21-18
