KUALA LUMPUR, July 8: Defending champion Lee Chong Wei was the toast of the home crowd when he upset Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat in the quarterfinals of the Malaysian Open badminton tournament on Friday.

For handing the Indonesian ace a 15-5, 15-0 drubbing, Lee became the only Malaysian player to reach the last four in the men’s singles semifinals Saturday after another local favourite Hafiz Hashim was overwhelmed by world No 3 Peter Gade in a pulsating encounter.

Gade, who had beaten three Malaysians prior to Friday’s last eight, was made to work by Hafiz in what was clearly the highlight of the night before finally carving his maiden victory over the Malaysian in three encounters. Gade won 15-10, 12-15, 15-5.

In the semifinals Saturday, Gade will take on China’s World No 1 Lin Dan who was given a walkover by his injured compatriot Chen Hong. No 5 seed Bao Chunlai completes the line-up after beating Chen Jin 15-8, 15-7.

Lee believed his attacking game rattled Hidayat who was earlier tipped by many to advance based on his victory in the Singapore Open last week.

“My strategy of adopting a fast attacking game paid dividends. However I suspect Hidayat was in pain. Maybe he had some problems with his right leg,” said Lee.

Hidayat preferred to give Lee the credit.

“Lee was the better player tonight,” he said.

Lee was confident of clearing the semifinal hurdle against Bao as he had never lost to the Chinese in three meetings.

“But my coach (Li Mao) has told me to stay grounded and remain focused,” said the 23-year old.

No 6 seed Hafiz was upset with the defeat but conceded Gade was simply the better shuttler.

Gade was delighted after claiming his fourth Malaysian victim after wins over Lee Tsuen Seng, Roslin Hashim and Wong Choong Hann in the earlier rounds.

“Hafiz posed some problems but I succeeded in luring him into my game. The trick was to deny Hafiz the time and opportunity to attack and smash,” said the Dane.

In the women’s singles, No 2 seed Zhang Ning defeated Japan’s Kaori Mori 11-1, 11-4 while unseeded Li Li from Singapore who shocked top seed Xie Xingfang in the first round, continued her good run by beating Japan’s Yu Hirayama 11-9, 11-4.

In the semifinals Saturday, Li Li will take on China’s Zhu Lin who outsmarted compatriot Lu Lan 11-9, 11-6.

Results:

Mens singles (quarterfinal): Lin Dan (CHN) bt Chen Hong (CHN) walkover; Peter Gade (DEN) bt Hafiz Hashim (MAS) 15-10, 12-15, 15-5; Lee Chong Wei (MAS) bt Taufik Hidayat (INA) 15-5, 15-0; Bao Chunlai (CHN) mn Chen Jin (CHN) 15-8, 15-7

Womens singles (quarterfinals): Zhang Ning (CHN) bt Kaori Mori (JPN) 11-1, 11-4; Yao Jie (NED) bt Xu Huaiwen (GER) 8-11, 11-3, 11-9; Li Li (SIN) bt Yu Hirayama (JPN) 11-9, 11-4; Zhu Lin (CHN) bt Lu Lan (CHN) 11-9, 11-6

Mixed doubles (quarterfinals): Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms (ENG) bt Thomas Laybourn and Juhl Kamilla Rytter (DEN) 15-6, 15-8; Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting (CHN) bt Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam (THA) 15-9, 15-7; Lee Jae-jin and Lee Hyo-jung (KOR) bt Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir (INA) 15-8, 15-8; Robert Blair and Natalie Munt (ENG) bt Songpol Anukritayawan and Kulchala Worawichitchaikul (THA) 17-15, 8-15, 17-16.—AFP