Chinese shuttlers keep momentum with Day 3 victories at Malaysia Open

KUALA LUMPUR - Chinese shuttlers continued their momentum into the third day of the Malaysia Open 2023, scoring victories in several categories on Thursday.

Reigning Olympic champion Chen Yufei outplayed her Canadian opponent Michelle Li 21-13, 10-21, 21-13 in the women's singles, while her teammate Wang Zhiyi knocked out Chinese Taipei's Pai Yu-po 21-13, 21-10 at the Axiata Arena.

Men's doubles pair Liu Yuchen/Ou Xuanyi outplayed Malaysia's Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik 21-10, 23-21 while Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang outclassed former world No. 1 Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia 20-22, 21-12, 21-19.

In Women's doubles, world champions Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan overcame their Indonesian counterparts Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi 21-7, 21-9 while Li Wenmei/Liu Xuanxuan bested their compatriots Du Yue/Xia Yuting 21-12, 17-21, 21-14. Zhang Shuxian/Zheng Yu breezed past their Malaysian opponents 21-10, 21-7.

Mixed doubles pair Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong easily beat Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai of Malaysia 21-16, 21-10 in a quick 30-minute match.

There were setbacks to the Chinese team, however, with Zhao Junpeng falling to Singapore's Loh Kean Yew 21-15, 21-8 in the men's singles and Tai Tzu-ying of Chinese Taipei defeating Han Yue 21-10, 21-13 in women's singles.

Similarly, mixed doubles Olympic champions Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping lost out to South Korea's Kim Won-ho/Jeong Na-eun 12-21, 22-20, 23-21 in a grueling one hour 14 minute match.

The Malaysia Open will run from Jan 10 to 15.