Denmart Open: Thien How-Wee Kiong storm into quarter-finals

Doubles shuttlers Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong are enjoying a dream run in the Denmark Open in only their first outing as a pair.
Thien How-Wee Kiong continued their fairytale run by storming into the quarter-finals with a sensational 21-18, 21-17 win over Indonesians Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan in 37 minutes.
A day earlier, the Malaysian qualifiers got their new partnership off to a flying start with a superb 16-21, 21-19, 21-11 win over China’s second pair Guo Zhengdong-Chai Biao in the first round.
Today, they will take on the winners of the match between top seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China and Taiwan’s Fang Chieh-min-Lee Sheng-mu for a place in the semi-finals.
Their good run has certainly lifted the gloom in the men’s doubles department following the shock loss of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to South Korea’s Kwon Yi-goo-Cho Gun-woo in the opening round.
Thien How was delighted to have made the breakthrough, especially after picking up a slight injury to his knee on Tuesday.
“I hurt my knee during the qualifying tournament. It hurts when I lunge forward ... but it won’t stop me from giving my best here,” said Thien How, who had a strap on his knee.
Wee Kiong said their good run thus far has helped erase any doubts he had about their future as a pair.
“I am confident we can take this partnership further now. There is better understanding between us.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, who will turn 29 today, took down two players from India en route to checking into the quarter-finals.
Yesterday, he disposed of Anand Pawar with a 21-14, 21-13 win in the second round. On Wednesday, he had beaten P. Kashyap 21-11, 21-13.
Chong Wei will take on former world champion Chen Jin of China for a place in the semi-final.
Earlier, back-up shuttler Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, playing in only his second Super Series tournament, gave a good fight before going down 16-21, 10-21 to Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark in the first round.
It was a great day for world junior champion and local star Viktor Axelsen when he knocked out fifth seed Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia 16-21, 21-9, 21-14.
He will take on the winner of the match between Peter-Gade Christ-ensen and Germany’s Marc Zwiebler.
Malaysia’s challenge in the mixed doubles event also ended when Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying went down 16-21, 15-21 to top seeds Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China.
Courtesy of The Star