WUHAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- It was another easy win for Chinese No. 1 shuttler Chen Long, who needed just 39 minutes to dispatch Indian player Praneeth B. Sai with a double 21-12 at the Badminton Asia Championships here on Thursday.
Chen, the defending champion, became the only home player to move into the quarterfinals in men's singles, as Shi Yuqi was eliminated by Japanese star Kento Momota 21-15, 12-21, 21-12 in an early match.
It was Chen's first face-to-face match against current world No. 19 Praneeth, but the Rio Olympic champion showed no mercy, dominating throughout the match.
The 29-year-old Chinese surged to a 11-3 lead in the first game, which ended in 21-12. The second game ended in the same score, giving Chen an easy victory.
Chen has been struggling this season, failing to reach the semifinal in any of the three BWF World Tour tournaments he participated in, including a first-round exit in the Malaysia Masters in January. But the city of Wuhan and the continental tournament here have left some good memories for Chen, where last year, he had overcome another home favorite Lin Dan in a tough three-game final to lift the trophy.
Chen said he wanted to recover his form through the Asia Championships and prepared himself for the upcoming Thomas Cup.
Awaiting Chen in the quarterfinals is eighth-seeded Hong Kong compatriot Ng Ka Long Angus, who beat Christie Jonatan of Jordan 21-19, 12-21, 21-15.
China's Shi, seeded fourth, failed to move on as he was defeated by former world No. 2 Kento.
"It was my first game against Kento, he is an experienced player, especially when he came to the net. I was under great pressure in the game," Shi said after the match.
Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei rallied to beat Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia 16-21, 21-9, 21-11, setting up a rematch of the Commonwealth Games final against Srikanth Kidambi in the quarterfinals.
Lee has defeated the India's top player early this month in a three-game final in Gold Coast in Australia to clinch his third Commonwealth Games gold medal.
No. 5 seed Lee went into the match against Ginting with a slow start, losing the first game 21-16 under aggressive attacking play from his opponent. But the two-time winner bounced back to win the second game 21-9.
The 35-year-old Lee extended his momentum in the decider, winning six points in a row at 15-11 to seal the victory 21-11.
In the women's actions, 21-year-old home shuttler He Bingjiao cruised past Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand 21-10, 21-12 to set a quarterfinal against top-seeded Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei.
Sixth-seeded Chen Yufei knocked out Nitchaon Jindapol of Thailand 21-19, 21-14 to advance.
