Tai Tzu, Okuhara, Intanon, Saina enter QF of BWF Malaysia Masters 2019

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 1 in Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings Tai Tzu Ying, 24, Taiwan, World No 2 Nozomi Okuhara, 23, Japan, World No 8 Ratchanok Intanon, 23, Thailand, and World No 9 Saina Nehwal, 28, India, entered the quarter-finals of BWF Malaysia Masters at Axiata Arena, Kualalumpur, Malayasia, on January 17, 2019.

Tai Tzu Ying, the reigning Asian Games women’s champion, beat World No 21 Line Hojmark Kjaersfeltd, 24,Denmark, in a tough three-game contest 19-21, 21-12, 21-10 in second round in 41 games on January 17. Ying won 61 rallies in the match to 43 by Kjaersfeltd. Both the players won 5 consecutive points each in the match. Ying now leads Kjaersfeltd 5-0 head to head.

Okuhara, the 2017 World Champion, beat World No 17 Aya Ohori, 22, Japan, in a three-game thriller 14-21, 21-11, 21-14 in the second round in 57 minutes. Okuhara won 56 rallies in the match to 46 by Ohori. Okuhara won 13 consecutive points in the match to 7 by Ohori.  Okuhara now leads Ohori 7-1 head to head.

Ratchanok Intanon beat World No 49 Chloe Birch, 23, UK, 21-12, 21-10 in 26 minutes in the second round.Intanon won 42 rallies in the match to 22 by Birch. Intanon won 6 consecutive points in the match to 4 by Birch.

Saina beat World No 34 Yip Pui Yin, 31, Hong Kong, 21-14, 21-16 in the second round in 39 minutes. Saina won 42 rallies in the match to 30 by Yin. Yin though won 7 consecutive points in the match to 4 by Saina. Saina now leads Yin 9-2 head to head.