KUALA LUMPUR, April 18: World number one and top seed Lin Dan of China stayed on track to win his first ever title on Malaysian soil, marching into the men’s singles quarter-finals at the Asian Badminton Championships being held in the Johor state on Thursday night.

The Chinese ace was taken the full distance by Singapore’s Indonesian-born Ronald Susilo and toiled for 69 minutes before winning 21-14, 23-25, 21-16, the longest match played in the tournament so far.

But it was the end of the road for 2006 champion Lee Chong Wei as the Malaysian number one and world number two was humbled by Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana, winner of the recent Indian Open.

The Thai number one ran out 21-16, 10-21, 21-15 winner in 52 minutes on a day when unseeded Muhammad Hafiz Hashim gave the home fans something to cheer about when he pulled off a surprise win over third-seeded Bao Chunlai.

Hafiz won 21-23, 21-15, 21-15, his first big win in more than a year as China and Malaysia prepare for next month’s Thomas Cup Finals in Jakarta.

There was more cheer for the Malaysians when veteran Wong Choong Hann, 31, tamed another Chinese, Chen Yu, in straight sets 21-19, 21-9, giving himself a big boost ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.

In the quarter-finals, Lin will be up against hard-hitting Lee Hyun Il of South Korea. The sixth-seeded Korean whipped Hong Kong’s Ng Wei 21-10, 21-16.

All-England champion Chen Jin, the fourth seed here and eyeing a place in the Olympics, beat Simon Santoso of Indonesia 21-17, 21-12 to advance to play Wong Choong Hann.

Meanwhile, top seeds Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah of Malaysia stayed on track to retain the men’s doubles title, moving into the quarter-finals with an easy 21-8, 21-9 win in only 15 minutes over Cambodia’s Prum Saravuth-Teav Yongvannak in a second-round match.

Results (x denotes seeding):Men’s singles (third round):

Lin Dan (CHN x1) bt Ronald Susilo (SIN x12) 21-14, 23-25, 21-16; Lee Hyun Il (KOR x6) bt Ng Wei (HKG x 15) 21-10, 21-16; Chen Jin (CHN x 4) bt Simon Santoso (INA x 10) 21-17, 21-12; Wong Choong Hann (MAS x 11) bt Chen Yu (CHN x8) 21-19, 21-9; Sony Dwi Kuncoro (INA x5) bt Hsieh Yu Shin (TPE) 21-13, 21-12; Muhammad Hafiz Hashim (MAS) bt Bao Chunlai (CHN x3) 21-23, 21-15, 21-15; Park Sung Hwan (KOR x7) bt Tan Chun Seang (MAS) 21-11, 21-11; Boonsak Ponsana (THA x9) bt Lee Chong Wei (MAS x2) 21-16, 10-21, 21-15.

Women’s singles (second round):

Wang Chen (HKG x1) bt Chiang Pei Hsing (TPE) 21-11, 21-10; Kaori Imabeppu (JPN) bt Lydia Cheah (MAS) 13-21, 21-14, 21-16; Jiang Yanjiao (CHN) bt Eriko Hirose (JPN x4) 21-10, 21-12; Ai Gato (JPN) bt Julia Wong (MAS) 21-12, 21-12; Yu Hirayama (JPN x6) bt Mong Kwan Yi (HKG) 21-14, 21-9; Yip Pui Yin (HKG x3) bt Fu Mingtian (SIN) 21-17, 21-17; Wang Lin (CHN) bt Cheng Shao Chieh (TPE x5) 21-16, 19-21, 22-20; Wong Mew Choo (MAS x2) bt Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (THA) 19-21, 21-15, 21-16.—AFP