NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Malaysia’s defence of their Commonwealth title carried them into the quarter-finals on Tuesday when they scored their third clean sweep victory of the team event, 5-0 against Nigeria.

The champions had so much to spare, as they should do in all their group matches, that they were able to progress comfortably even without their world number one Lee Chong Wei.

Instead, the men’s singles slot was taken by Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, the former All-England champion, who started in second gear but gradually got well on top in a 21-15, 21-9 win over Joseph Abah.

Malaysia’s best women’s singles player, Wong Mew Chew was also given a rest. Her place was taken by Lydia Cheah, a 21-year-old from Kuala Lumpur who won the opening encounter emphatically.

Results: Mixed Team pool:

Group ‘A’: Seychelles bt Isle of Man 3-2 Australia bt Nigeria 5-0 Malaysia bt Nigeria 5-0

Group ‘B’: New Zealand bt Sri Lanka 3-2 Northern Ireland bt Jamaica 4-1

Group ‘C’: Canada bt Mauritius 5-0 Uganda bt Falkland Islands 5-0

Group ‘D’: India bt Barbados 5-0 Wales bt Kenya 5-0.—AFP