Gwangju City: Former World No. 1 men’s doubles player Lee Yong Dae who took 14 months off after winning the 2016 Korea Open, partnering with Yoo Yeon Seong, narrowly scraping past compatriots Kang Ji Wook/Lee Sang Joon of Korea 21-10, 18-21, 21-14 in exactly an one hour battle to enter the quarter-finals of the Korea Masters on Thursday.
Lee/Yoo will meet another Korean pair Choi Hyuk Gyun/Park Kyung Hoon on Friday.
In men’s singles, the defending champion Son Wan Ho of Korea was shocked by fellow teammate Kim Min Ki, bowing out 12-21, 12-21 at the Yeomju Gymnasium in 32 minutes. Kim will take on Lee Chia Hao of Taiwan after the Taiwanese beat Malaysian shuttler Soong Joo Ven 21-19, 21-13.
Malaysia’s hopes fizzled out as No. 9 seed Chong Wei Feng was also knocked out from the tournament by No. 7 seed Khosit Phetpradab, losing 17-21, 10-21 in 34 minutes. Lim Yin Loo/Yap Cheng Wen (women’s doubles), Goh V Shem/Teo Ee Yi (men’s doubles), Soniia Cheah (women’s singles) and Chan Peng Soon/Cheah Yee See (mixed doubles) were all sent packing on Thursday with the exception of Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean.
Chow/Lee advanced to the quarter-finals by outlasting Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kititharakul/Rawinda Prajongjai 21-13, 21-12 in 38 minutes to set up a quarter-final meeting with South Korea’s Chae Yoo Jung-Kim Hye Rin.
