Lydia kneed out as Zhu Lin also makes painful exit
News 5:53 PM
MALAYSIAN Lydia Cheah and Chinese Zhu Lin made painful second-round exits yesterday.
The eighth seed Lydia had a closely fought two games against Singapore’s Fu Mingtian but aggravated an ankle injury in the decider and went down 21-23, 25-23, 15-21.
“Yesterday, I had my knee iced (after the win over Thailand’s Sapsiree Taerattanachai). Today, I had to use an ice pack for my swollen ankle. I feel so disappointed,” said a frustrated Lydia.
“I wanted so much to make at least the quarter-finals. I knew that I had a chance against her but I could not keep up the pace any longer in the rubber game.”
However, Lydia added that she would shape up get into top form for the world championships in August.
“I will continue with treatment for these old injuries. The next few weeks will be very important to me.
“I hope to train harder to achieve a breakthrough in the world championships by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time,” she said.
Zhu Lin’s challenge ended pre-maturely when she had to retire after trailing 2-15 in the opening game against Wang Shixian.
It has been a run of bad luck for Zhu Lin, who found out earlier that she will not get to defend the world championships title she won in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.
China have chosen Xie Xingfang, Wang Yihan, Wang Lin and Lu Lan for their challenge in Hyderabad.
With the exit of Lydia yesterday, Wong Mew Choo is the sole Malaysian survivor in the women’s singles.
Mew Choo defeated compatriot Stephanie Shalini Sukumaran 21-7, 21-18 to set up a quarter-final match against Singaporean Xing Aiying.
Indonesia Open champion Saina Nehwal of India made it to the last eight but she showed signs of fatigue, clawing back from a game down to beat Thailand’s 14-year-old Ratchanok Intanon 18-21, 21-12, 21-18.
In the women’s doubles, world No. 1 and Indonesia Open champions Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty dropped a game in a 23-25, 21-16, 21-12 win over India’s Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnapa.
The top seeds will be out to beat China’s former world champions Zhang Jiewen-Yang Wei for the first time in the quarter-finals today.
Nairul Suhada Abdul Latif-Amelia Anscelly, also advanced to the quarter-finals for a match against Singaporeans Frances Liu Fan-Vanessa Neo Yu Yan.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 5:53 PM.
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