Home favorite Jonatan Christie produced a stunning display to eliminate double Olympic champion Lin Dan of China in the second round of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Indonesia Open at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta today. The 18-year-old Indonesian showed his potential throughout the duration of the men’s singles contest in a tournament that is part of the BWF Superseries Premier, dominating the early stages of his match with the five-time world champion to claim the opening game 21-12.
His performance level did not dip in the second game, with Lin unable to claw his way back into the contest as Christie wrapped up a 21-12, 21-12 win in just 35 minutes. The Indonesian is now due to face the challenge of Denmark’s Jan Ø. Jørgensen after the fifth seedcruised to a 21-16, 21-16 win over Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki Vi to reach the quarter-finals.
Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, the highest ranked seed in the men’s draw following the decision of China’s world champion Chen Long to withdraw yesterday due to a back injury, also enjoyed a straightforward day. The 33-year-old stormed to a 21-10, 21-13 victory over Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long An to set up a tie against China’s Wang Zhengming, a 22-20, 21-11 winner over Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen.
England’s Rajiv Ouseph came from a game down to beat Hong Kong’s Wei Nan 11-21, 26-24, 21-15 in his third round match to earn a quarter-final showdown with Indonesia’s Ihsan Maul Mustofa, who beat China’s Huang Yuxiang 21-18, 21-15.
Hu Yun completed the quarter-final line-up as the Hong Kong star earned a 21-12, 15-21, 21-16 victory over Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro. He is now due to face Chinese sixth seed Tian Houwei, who battled to a 17-21, 21-11, 21-13 win over Germany’s Marc Zwiebler.
Women’s number one Carolina Marin of Spain will meet her rival Saina Nehwal of India in the women’s quarter-finals after the pair secured straight sets wins in their second round matches. Marin overcame Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 24-22, 21-14 and Nehwal brushed aside Indonesia’s Fitriani Fitriani 21-11, 21-10.
Third seed Li Xuerui of China was surprisingly beaten 21-18, 21-18 by Tai Tzu Ying. The Chinese Taipei player will now move on to play Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, who defeated Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland 21-15, 21-8. Li’s team-mate Wang Yihan avoided an upset in her match against Denmarl’s Line Kjaersfeld, winning 21-13, 18-21, 21-12. She will now face South Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun, following her 21-17, 21-19 triumph over Singapore’s Xiaoyu Liang.
The final last eight encounter is set to see China’s Sun Yu meet her compatriot Wang Shixian. Yu defeated Indonesia’s Febby Angguni 21-12, 21-15 and Wang achieved a 13-21, 21-14, 21-14 win over Chinese team-mate He Bingjiao their second round clash.
By Michael Pavitt
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz