Ratchanok Intanon has set up a quarter-final clash with world No.1 Tai Tzu-ying at the US$700,000 (approximately 23.1 million baht) China Open at Haixia Olympic Sports Center in Fuzhou today.
The Thai eighth seed brushed aside Lee Chia-hsin of Taiwan 21-12, 21-8 in just 29 minutes, while No.1 Tai of Taiwan spent four minutes longer on the court in her 21-18, 21-15 win over Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark at the BWF Superseries tournament.
Compatriot Tanongsak Saensombooksuk was unable to pull off another three-game escape after falling to fourth seed Shi Yuqi of China 14-21, 21-19, 18-21 in the second round of the men's singles event.
Women's doubles pair of Chayanit Chaladchalam and Phataimas Muenwong and mixed doubles partners Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Puttita Supajirakul were scheduled to play their second round matches late last night.
Dechapol and Kittinupong Kedren lost their men's doubles opening match to Lee Jhe-huei and Lee Yang of Taiwan on Wednesday.
In other women's singles second round matches yesterday, fifth seed Akane Yamaguchi beat Saina Nehwal of India 21-18, 21-11. The Japanese next plays either third seed Sung Ji-Hyun of South Korea or China's Ji Shuting.
In the bottom half of the draw, second seed PV Sindhu defeated China's Han Yue 21-15, 21-13 to set up a last-eight meeting with China's Gao Fangjie, who knocked out Lee Jang-Mi of South Korea 21-16, 21-15.
No.7 seed He Bingjiao of China, who battled past Canada's Michelle Li 21-18, 18-21, 21-16, takes on fourth seed Carolina Marin of Spain after the reigning Olympic champion rallied past Kim Hyo-Min of South Korea 18-21, 21-17, 21-4.
Meanwhile second seed Thamonwan Nithiittikrai moved into the quarter-finals of the girls U15 event at the Korea Junior Badminton Championships yesterday.
The Thai youngster defeated No.15 Maulia Syauki Ihsani of Indonesia 21-10, 21-11 at Miryang City Badminton Stadium.
She takes on another Korean Kim Na-Yeon today after the home star knocked out compatriot Kim Ae-Lin 21-12, 13-21, 21-12 in another last-16 match yesterday.