Perak: Whether it was for fun or whether Lee Chong Wei needed to create some room for the very much-needed relaxation ahead of world championships, the serious Perak Open badminton tournament that kicked off three days ago, turned in to a fun time when Lee stepped onto badminton court with Vivian Hoo to play in the first round of mixed doubles on Monday. Lee/Vivian’s scary power, speed and athleticism proved too much for a courageous Mohd Lutfi Zaim Bin Abdul Khalid/Julia Wong Pei Xian pair, winning the match 21-10, 21-16 and advancing into second round where they will face Lim Tiat Long/Ng Sin Zou on Tuesday.
In men’s singles, defending champion Daren Liew defeated Ai Wei Jian 21-13, 21-13 in the men’s singles 3rd round, and will face off against Soong Joo Ven in the quarter-finals.
The 2009 world junior silver medalist Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin fought back from a set down to overcome the 2003 All-England champion Mohd Hafiz Hashim with 21-13, 10-21, 21-16. He is fighting an uphill battle with top seed Mohd Arif Abdul Latif on Tuesday for the semi-finals berth.
Goh Soon Huat, Chong Yee Han, Jimmy Tay Yu Lun and Tan Chun Seang were among men’s singles players that made the quarter-finals.
Women’s top seed Tee Jing Yi will take on Lee Zii Yii in the quarter-finals, while 16 year-old Goh Jin Wei will square off against Lim Chiew Sien on Tuesday. Ho Yen Mei and Yang Li Lian together with Lim Yin Fun and Payee Lim Peiy Yee will cross swords on Tuesday to earn a spot in the semi-finals.
In the absence of Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong, Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, unseeded pairs such as Tan Bin Shen/Chow Pak Chuu, Chua Khek Wei/Woon Man Chun, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif/Nur Mohd Azriyn Bin Ayub, Darren Isaac A/l Devadas/Vountus Indra Mawan, and Tan Wee Tat/Tan Yip Juin managed to make it through to the quarters in men’s doubles together with second seeds Tan Wee Gieen/Teo Ee Yi, third seeds Chooi Kah Ming/Ow Yao Han, fourth seeds Lim Ming Chuen/Ong Wei Khoon.
