KUALA LUMPUR: World No 26 Ng Tze Yong will have a shot at claiming another major scalp after sailing into the quarter-finals of Swiss Open in Basel.
The 22-year-old outplayed compatriot Cheam June Wei 21-12, 21-17 in the second round on Thursday to set up his next big clash against Taiwanese ace Chou Tien Chen, who subdued compatriot Chi Yu Jen 23-25, 21-18, 21-9.
After stunning world No 1 Viktor Axelsen at the All England last week, a win over opponent of Tien Chen calibre will surely help to elevate Tze Yong confidence further.
The 33-year-old Tien Chen may be struggling to impress of late, losing in the first round in his last two outings including at last week's All England, but the world No 6 is still a force to be reckoned with.
Last year, he was a four-time finalist on World Tour and had earned his maiden podium finish at the World Championships with a bronze in Tokyo last year.
A win over Tien Chen will likely pave the way for another mouth-watering rematch between Tze Yong and Axelsen.
Axelsen was in a devastating form as he beat Lin Chun Yi 21-11, 21-7, and will start as a favourite against Frenchman Christo Popov in the last eight.
Also through to the quarter-finals were independent mixed pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai.
The sixth-seeded Malaysians beat Taiwan's Chiu Hsiang Hsieh-Lin Xiao Min 21-15, 14-21, 21-14, and will take on Thailand's Supak Jomkoh-Supissara Saewsampran next.
An all-Malaysian last four clash is on the cards if Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei can beat Dutch pair Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek.
In the women's singles, Goh Jin Wei continued to show that she was struggling with fitness.
For the second week in a row, she had to retire from the match this time against Pornpawee Chochuwong. She threw in the towel after trailing 13-4 in the opening game.
At the All England last week, the two-time world junior champion also had to concede during the rubber game against Yvonne Li of Germany.
Jin Wei is trying to make a comeback since recovering from a stomach ailment, which had forced her to retire briefly before resuming her career as an independent player.
It was also the end of the road for professional women's pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien after going down fighting to South Korea's Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee 21-13, 21-16, 21-12.