Chen Yu, Bao Chunlai and Ji Xinpeng, the last three Chinese musketeers were beaten today, leaving the men's singles event in the hands of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore!

Chen Hong''s early defeat was a bad sign for the Chinese men''s singles: none of his compatriots survived the third round later on. A quite unusual performance from Li Yongbo''s players, who always had at least one player remaining in the last stages of the big events. Not this time. Neither Bao Chunlai, Chen Yu, nor Olympic Champion Ji Xinpeng were able to provide their country with a spot in the quarter final.

Chen Yu''s task was rather hard, as he faced Taufik Hidayat (pictured), eager to do well after such a long time away from competition - he had been injured during the Malaysian and Indonesian and banned by PBSI from playing in the WGPF. Both players held a great fight, under the cheers from an equally divided crowd. Chen Yu took the advantage by leading two games to one, using a good strategy: he didn''t let Taufik in charge and tried to use as many variations in his game as he could.

It worked until the 20 year old Indonesian realised he had to be even more aggressive. During superb points, changing pace from fast attacks to drop shots, Hidayat won in overtime in the fourth game, 8/6 after a splendid back hand smash. He then wrapped it up in the fifth and final game 7/1.

China''s bad day continued when Ji Xinpeng lost to Hadikusuma in three straight games, 3/7 - 6/8 - 3/7. The Olympic champion never got into the match, and the Indonesian took all his chances. Only Bao Chunlai could eventually save China''s honour. The world junior champion almost did against Wong Choong Hann after leading 2 games to love. Yet the Malaysian got back into the game, finding a new energy. "I was tired in the first two sets, but I eventually began to feel better in the third. I tried to keep the shuttle as low as I could to prevent him to attack and it worked" said Wong (pictured).

Wong closed Malaysia''s impressive day. After their impressive morning session, all expected his compatriots to slow down a bit, yet Hafiz Hashim and Amar Ayob went on to produce other upsets over 10th seed Richard Vaughan and 8th seed Anders Boesen of Denmark. Only Ismail Saman - who had beaten Chen Hong this morning - wasn''t able to cope with Boonsak Polsana''s simple but efficient game.

«The whole Malaysian team is doing good. Maybe it is because of the new scoring system which fits our style of game, but I also believe that Indra Gunawan, our men''s singles coach has something to do with it. He has taught us discipline and showed us the best way of training for each of us» said Wong.

The last guests for the quarter finals tomorrow are WGPF runner up Marleve Mainaky - who had to fight 5 games against Kenneth Jonassen - and local hero Indra Wijaya. In the last match of the men''s singles, the former Indonesian now playing under Singapore''s colours won quite quickly over Budi Santoso, 7/1 - 7/4 - 7/0.

The men''s doubles draw wasn''t as shaken as the men''s single''s event. But Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen lost to World number 19 Mateusiak and Logosz of Poland. Their compatriots Eriksen and Larsen had a scare in their match against the top Swedish pair, but they finally won in three hard fought games. Thailand''s Teerawiwanata and Pansvisvas once again beat the Chinese pair Zhang/Zhang in a most enjoyable match. They had upset their opponents in May, in this very same stadium during the Asia Cup.

In the mixed doubles event, all seeded pairs went through to the quarter final stage. After their win in the WGPF, Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager took no time to beat Indonesia''s Maykel/Widiowati. Yet two other pairs will represent Indonesia tomorrow: Nova Widhianto and Vita Marissa in the top half, while Alven Yulianto and Yunita Tety will play Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen.

The Danish pair have now been playing together for 6 years and still hope for another title. Michael Sogaard (pictured) said he was about to take a decision concerning his career within the next two weeks. His contract with his sponsor lasts until next December.

Tomorrow''s quarter finals:

MS:
Polsana (THA) Vs Hafiz Hashim (MAS)
Hidayat (INA) Vs Ayob (MAS)
Wong (MAS) Vs Mainaky (INA)
Hadikusuma (INA) Vs Wijaya (SIN)

LS:
Marfuah (INA) Vs Ng (MAS)
Martin (DEN) Vs Zhang (CHN)
Dai (CHN) Vs Tang (CHN)
Mori (JPN) Vs Gong Z. (CHN)

MD:
Gunawan/Haryanto (INA) Vs Lundgaard/Paaske (DEN)
Mateusiak/Logosz (POL) Vs Teerawiwanata/Panvisvas (THA)
Chew/Chang (MAS) Vs Larsen/Eriksen (DEN)
Liu/Chen (CHN) Vs Budiarto/Wijaya (INA)

LD:
Wei/Zhang (CHN) Vs Nakayama/Anjo (JPN)
Erlanga/Novita (INA) Vs Amin/Wong(MAS)
Zhang/Zhao (CHN) Vs Lim/Ang (MAS)
Liu/Xiao (SIN) Vs Kirkegaard/Olsen (DEN)

MxD:
Ericksen/Schjoldager (DEN) Vs Zheng/Zhang (CHN)
Widhianto/Marissa (INA) Vs Chen/Chen (CHN)
Liu/Zhang (CHN) Vs Bergstrom/Karlsson (SWE)
Sogaard/Olsen (DEN) Vs Yulianto/Tety (CHN)

Report and pictures by Raphael Sachetat