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Day Three: Wang Shixian suffers host's only defeat at Badminton Asia Championships

Xinhua, April 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

Wang Shixian crashed to only her second loss in 17 matches against Bae Yeon Ju in the third round of the 2015 Badminton Asia Championships which was also China's only defeat on Thursday.

Wang, women's singles runner-up in the last edition to Bae's teammate Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea, appeared to have things under control with a 19-17 lead in the first game, but Bae surged past her to take it 22-20. From 10-all in the second, Wang dramatically fell apart as Bae cruised to victory: 22-20 21-11.

"I lost for no apparent reason. I felt I didn't control my back court and had more unforced errors than her," said Wang, the third-seeded player.

Wang's compatriots Li Xuerui and Wang Yihan - both former champions - entered the quarter-finals without much trouble.

World No. 1 Saina Nehwal got past a potentially difficult opponent with surprising ease. Nozomi Okuhara took the match to a decider but Nehwal won with plenty to spare: 21-14 10-21 21-10. Awaiting her in the quarter-finals is Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei.

Other quarter-final clashes feature Bae Yeon Ju against Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon; Wang Yihan against Sung Ji Hyun and India's PV Sindhu against Li Xuerui.

The longest-duration match of the day was in the men's singles. China's Tian Houwei recovered from a one-game deficit to overhaul South Korea's Lee Dong Keun, 17-21, 21-8, 21-11. The marathon battle lasted for 85 minutes. Tian's teammate Wang Zhengming also won a three-game battle to enter the last-eight round.

Tian and Wang joined compatriots Chen Long and Lin Dan in the quarter-finals. Defending champion Lin faces Japan's Sho Sasaki next, while Chen will run into Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen.

"Actually, from tomorrow on, the real match just starts," said Chen Long, the current world No. 1.

In the men's and the women's doubles, China both had three pairs respectively through into the last eight.

Mixed doubles saw the closest match of the day. Shin Baek Choel/Chang Ye Na of South Korea were 15-19 down in the third game against Thailand's Nipitphon Puangpuapech/Puttita Supajirakul, but claimed the next six points in a row and eventually won the match 18-21 21-19 23-21. Endi