CWG 2010 QF – Some upsets at last

England is the only nation remaining with shuttlers involved in each of the 5 events of the semi-finals of the XIXth Commonwealth Games in Delhi, to be played on Tuesday. The Malaysians and the Indians, led by inspired Lee Chong Wei and Saina Nehwal respectively, stand firmly resolved to prevent an English sweep but this was the first day with real upsets.

Raphael Sachetat. Photos: Sukumar for Badmintonphoto (live from Delhi)

Unlike previous days, where upsets were basically inexistent, this 8^th day of badminton in Delhi provided with some unexpected results. Of course, top seeds couldn’t stumble so early on in the draw, but there were some surprises. For India, some good, some, not so good.

Kashyap Parupalli provided with the first upset of the evening when he stunned 2002 gold medallist Hafiz Hashim in a fierce battle. India will have another shot at victory with Chetan Anand, who beat Carl Baxter and who assures a medal for India – bronze at least – since the host country will have two representative in the last four. Chetan will take on Lee Chong Wei – a player he’s never beaten – while Kashyap may have the best chance, facing Rajiv Ouseph, who has made tremendous progress in the past few months but who is yet a step below Lee Chong Wei for anyone to reach.

In the ladies’ singles, no major surprise with Wong Mew Choo and Saina Nehwal (photo) going through easily, the latter sending Anna Rice packing from her last international competition. Susan Egelstaff might also again on the podium, 4 years after Melbourne, where she clinched bronze.

Some other surprises occurred in the men’s doubles, where Singaporeans Triyachart/Wong beat doubles specialists and third seeds Sanave Thomas and Rupesh Kumar of India, 21-16, 21-15. The duo from Singapore are now looking at a medal they probably didn’t even dreamt of before this competition, local-born Derek Wong being a singles player. Wong’s partner, Thailand-born Triyachart, was to scoop another semi final spot later on with Yao Lei, defeating on road England’s Clark and Olver.

But the biggest disappointment for India was probably the loss of second seeds Diju and Gutta in the mixed doubles, to Koo Kien Keat(photo) and Chin Eei Hui , 13-21, 19-21.

Men’s singles quarter-finals:

Chetan Anand (IND) bt Carl Baxter (ENG) 21-17, 21-9
Rajiv Ouseph (ENG) bt Wong Zi Liang (SIN) 21-13, 21-15
Kashyap Parupalli (IND) bt Muhammad Hafiz Hashim (MAS) 19-21, 21-19, 21-14
Lee Chong Wei (MAS) bt Chen Yong Zhao (SIN) 21-13, 21-11

Women’s singles quarter-finals:

Liz Cann (ENG) bt Michelle Li (CAN) 21-14, 19-21, 21-16
Susan Egelstaff (SCO) bt Huang Chia-Chi (AUS) 21-18, 21-15
Wong Mew Choo (MAS) bt Aditi Mutatkar (IND) 21-8, 21-12
Saina Nehwal (IND) bt Anna Rice (CAN) 21-7, 21-10

Men’s doubles quarter-finals:

Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong (MAS) bt Oliver Leydon-Davis/Henry Tam (NZL) 21-16, 21-13
Hendri Saputra/Hendra Wijaya (SIN) bt Watson Briggs/Paul van Rietveld (SCO) 21-11, 22-20
Chayut Triyachart/Wong Zi Liang (SIN) bt Rupesh Kumar/Sanave Thomas (IND) 21-16, 21-15
Nathan Robertson/Anthony Clark (ENG) bt Chan Peng Soon/Muhammad Hafiz Hashim (MAS) 21-8, 21-7

Women’s doubles quarter-finals:

Shinta Sari/Yao Lei (SIN) bt Leanne Choo/Renuga Veeran (AUS) 21-18, 17-21, 21-17
Jenny Wallwork/Gabby White (ENG) bt LydiaCheah/Goh Liu Ying (MAS) 21-15, 16-21, 21-13
He Tian Tang/Kate Wilson-Smith (AUS) bt Danielle Barry/Donna Halliday (NZL) 21-12, 21-6
Jwala Gutta/Ashwini Ponnappa (IND) bt Mariana Agathangelou/Heather Olver (ENG) 21-9, 21-14

Mixed doubles quarter-finals:

Nathan Robertson/Jenny Wallwork (ENG) bt Watson Briggs/Imogen Bankier (SCO) 22-20, 23-21
Chan Peng Soon/Liu Ying Goh (MAS) bt Chris Adcock/Gabby White (ENG) 22-20, 16-21, 21-11
Chayut Triyachart/Yao Lei (SIN) bt Anthony Clark/Heather Olver (ENG) 19-21, 21-8, 21-12
Koo Kien Keat/Chin Eei Hui (MAS) bt Jwala Gutta/Diju Valiya Veetil (IND) 21-13, 21-19