Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan check into Badminton Asia Championships quarters

Wuhan: Lee Chong Wei has resisted a stirring first-set fightback from Hong Kong's Vincent Wong Wing Ki before the Malaysian moved on with 23-21, 21-12 to the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) quarter-finals on Thursday.

The World No. 2 Lee remained on course to meet Lin Dan in semi-finals after the two time Olympics champion Lin safely made it through over Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Minh 21-1, 21-11 in 39 minutes.

Lee Chong Wei will take on Taiwan's Chou Tien Chen in the quarters, while Lin Dan will square off against Lee Dong Keun on Friday.

Malaysia's independent shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli was no match for the Chinese ace, World No. 1 Chen Long in the men's second round. Chen duly prevailed 21-12, 21-10. Chen and No. 7 seed Tommy Sugiarto are set to meet in the quarter-finals.

Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen pulled off the biggest upset of the day in Wuhan on Thursday, beating second-seeded Indonesian men's doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan 15-21, 21-15, 21-13 to push their ways into the quarter-finals.

In women's competition, 2012 Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China set pulses racing as she was dicing with danger several times before dousing the fireworks of Japanese Akane Yamaguchi with a pulsating 21-16, 18-21, 21-19 BAC second round victory on Thursday. Li is set to clash with Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan on Friday.

India's Saina Nehwal also brushed aside Thailand's Nitchaon Jindapol in straight games 21-14, 21-18 to play third seeded Chinese Wang Shixian next.

On the other hand, World No. 1 women's singles shuttler Ratchanok Intanon suffered a shock second round exit at the Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium as she was knocked out by world No. 14 Sayaka Sato as she lost 17-21, 21-16, 21-17 in 63 minutes.