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Badminton: Chinese shuttlers advance in Malaysia Masters
CGTN
China's Weng Hongyang competes in the men's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /Xinhua
China's Weng Hongyang competes in the men's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /Xinhua

China's Weng Hongyang competes in the men's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /Xinhua

Chinese badminton players concluded their first round matches at the ongoing Malaysia Masters on Wednesday, with all women's singles players and mixed doubles cruising into the next round.

In the men's singles event, Weng Hongyang scored a hard fought 13-21, 23-21, 21-16 win against former world number 1 Kento Momota in a grueling match lasting one hour and 35 minutes. 

Li Shifeng outplayed Lee Cheuk Yiu of China's Hong Kong Administrative Region 21-18, 21-15.

However, host favorite and fourth seeded Lee Zii Jia defeated China's Lu Guangzu 21-12, 21-19. In the second set, Lee came from behind and reversed the deficit from 13-19 and secured the win. 

China's Han Yue competes in the women's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /CFP
China's Han Yue competes in the women's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /CFP

China's Han Yue competes in the women's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /CFP

Women's singles shuttler Han Yue demolished India's Ashmita Chaliha 21-17, 21-7 while Wang Zhiyi easily outclassed India's Malvika Bansod 21-11, 21-13, and Zhang Yiman beat Zhang Beiwen of the United States 21-15, 21-13 in a quick 30-minute match. 

Women's doubles pair Li Wenmei/Liu Xuanxuan scored a decisive 21-18, 21-8 victory over Chang Ching Hui/Yang Ching Tun of Chinese Taipei. 

Mixed doubles duo Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin beat Lee Jhe Huei/Hsu Ya Ching of Chinese Taipei 21-14, 21-14, while their compatriots Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping outmatched Vinson Chiu/Jennie Gai of the United States 21-10, 14-21, 21-9. 

Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia competes in the men's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /Xinhua
Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia competes in the men's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /Xinhua

Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia competes in the men's singles first round match at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, May 24, 2023. /Xinhua

The main players who claimed China's 13th Sudirman Cup, the prestigious mixed teams event, in east China's Suzhou City last week are not competing at the Malaysia Masters.

Men's singles world No. 1 Dane Viktor Axelsen also skipped the event and has withdrawn from the Super 750 event Singapore Open due to injuries.

The Malaysia Masters runs from May 23 to 28, before the Singapore Open which takes place from June 6 till June 11.

(With input from Xinhua)

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