HYDERABAD (India) - SECOND-SEEDED Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia beat Arvind Bhat of India 21-14, 21-11 on Thursday to move into the men's quarterfinals at the India Open badminton championship.
Hidayat, the favorite after the first-round exit of top-ranked Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, will meet Tan Chung Sean of Malaysia, who rallied to defeat Anup Sridhar of India 19-21, 21-11, 21-16.
Chen Long of China, a former junior world champion who upset Lee, advanced with a 21-12, 21-12 win over Anand Pawar of India.
Completing the quarterfinal lineup was eighth-seeded Lee Tsuen Seng, who beat Muhammad Roslin Hashim 21-8, 21-15 in an all-Malaysian matchup.
On the women's side, top-seeded Pi Hongyan of France faced a spirited challenge from Wang Shi Xian of China before winning 21-19, 21-19 to reach the quarterfinals. Pi will face Xia Jing Yun of China, who edged compatriot Cheng Wen 12-21, 24-22, 21-12.
Second-seeded Saina Nehwal of India posted a 21-8, 21-8 triumph against Chan Hung Yung of Hong Kong and will play Julia Pei Xian Wong of Malaysia, who beat Ashwini Ponappa of India 21-16, 21-16. -- AP