Kento Momota, the first Japanese man to win the Badminton World Championships, was stunned Saturday by home favorite Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia in men's singles round of 16 at the Asian Games in Jakarta.
Ginting forced a decider when the two last met in team semifinals before Momota spurted midway through the final set for his victory. However, the reigning world champion failed to restrain Ginting's attack throughout their rematch, and the Indonesian triumphed 21-18, 21-18 in 59 minutes.
Momota's unexpected elimination will provide a perfect opportunity for Olympic champion Chen Long, who edged out South Korean Heo Kwang-hee 24-22, 21-18, to clinch the title. Chen will take on Ginting in the next round.
Chen Long has a decent chance to win the men's singles title at the Asian Games after Kento Momota crashed out. /VCG Photo
In women's singles competition, China's Chen Yufei surfaced past veteran Yip Pui Yin of China's Hong Kong in straight sets, but He Bingjiao lost again to Japan's Nozomi Okuhara. In Sunday's quarterfinals, Chen will face Japan's highest-ranked Akane Yamaguchi.
Prior to Saturday's duel, He lost to Okuhara in the Asian Games team final, where China fell 3-1 to Japan to be dethroned for the first time in two decades. This time, the proceedings underwent in a simpler manner, as Okuhara triumphed 21-10, 21-12 in 34 minutes.
World No.1 Tai Tzuying, along with Pusarla V. Sindhu and Ratchanok Intanon, also made it into the last eight.
In women's doubles quarterfinals, third-seeded Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan of China eased past India's Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki N. Reddy 21-11, 24-22.
Tang Jinhua and Zheng Yu surrendered two match points and lost to home favorites Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu 18-21, 24-22, 21-16 in grueling 80 minutes.
Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping secured mixed doubles semifinal berth after beating Japanese duo Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino 21-17, 18-21, 21-17.
Wang Yilyu (L) and Huang Dongping in action during the Asian Games on August 25. /VCG Photo
In another duel between Chinese and Japanese shuttlers, top-seeded Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong repeated their teammates' success by overcoming Takuro Hoki/Koharu Yonemoto 21-13, 21-15.
Chinese pair Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan wasted their 22-20 victory in the opening game to fall 21-16, 21-16 to Lee Jhehuei and Lee Yang of Chinese Taipei in men's doubles round of 16.
World champions Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen were also forced a decider by Indian Manu Attri and Sumeeth B. Reddy before moving on 21-13, 17-21, 25-23.
(With input from agencies)