World No. 7 Lee Zii Jia made huge strides in his bid to qualify for the World Tour Finals (WTF), while Leong Jun Hao rebounded strongly to charge into the quarter-finals of the Kumamoto Masters in Japan, yesterday.
Independent shuttler Zii Jia, who withdrew from the Denmark Open in Odense last month due to an ankle strain, had to come from behind to beat World No. 34 Su Li Yang of Taiwan 19-21, 21-8, 21-16 in a 63-minute second round encounter.
The victory earned Zii Jia a last eight clash against Indonesian nemesis Jonatan Christie, the World No. 6, where they are tied 5-5 in head-head record.
Jonatan did not face any trouble overcoming Rasmus Gemke of Denmark 22-20, 21-17 in 51 minutes.
A place in the last eight will give Zii Jia, currently in sixth spot, valuable points in the race to the WTF and boost his chances of playing in the season-ending event in Hangzhou on Dec 11-15.
The top eight players in the World Tour rankings will proceed to the WTF, and Zii Jia can confirm his spot if he can reach the quarter-finals again in the China Masters on Nov 19-24.
World No. 31 Jun Hao proved his first round victory over the Paris Olympics semi-finalist wasn't a fluke as he carved out a 21-10, 16-21, 21-13 win over world No. 11 Koki Watanabe of Japan in the second round in 69 minutes.
It also ended six consecutive first or second round exits at the World Tour for Jun Hao and came as a confidence booster before playing Japanese No. 1 Naraoka in the last eight.
Jun Hao will be hoping for another breakthrough against Naraoka as he holds a 2-1 record against the Japanese shuttler.
Meanwhile, Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong upset the formbook by overcoming compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nu Izzuddin Rumsani to reach the men's doubles quarter-finals.
Unseeded Azriyn-Wee Kiong, the world No. 40, secured a surprise 21-9, 23-21 win over world No. 8 Sze Fei-Izzuddin in 36 minutes to remain as the sole Malaysian survivors in the men's doubles.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin were expected to make another strong surge in Kumamoto after having won the Japan (Super 750), China (Super 1000) and Artic (Super 500) Opens, but allowed their fellow independent counterparts to secure their first quarter-final appearance in the Super 500 event.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, though fresh from winning the Korea Masters on Sunday, crashed out in the second round.Aaron-Wooi Yik were beaten 21-11, 21-13 by Taiwan pair Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin in just 26 minutes.
Ironically, the Malaysian duo beat the same combination in the semi-finals of the Korea Masters in straight games last week.
The defeat dented Aaron-Wooi Yik's chances of qualifying for the WTF as they are ranked 10th in the World Tour and must make it to the top seven with just the China Masters left to play.
World No. 14 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun also bowed out in the second round after losing 21-17, 19-21, 21-19 to Indonesians Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto.
However, Malaysia fared better in the mixed doubles as world No. 10 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and world No. 25 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin checked into the quarter-finals.
Soon Huat-Shevon overcame young China pair Zhou Zhi Hong-Yang Jia Yi 21-19, 21-11 while Pang Ron-Su Yin toppled World No. 15 Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas of Indonesia 18-21, 24-22, 21-10.