Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai moved into the mixed doubles quarter-finals of the US$150,000 German Open yesterday.
Thailand's Sapsiree Taerattanachai, left, and Dechapol Puavaranukroh. afp PATRICK HAMILTON
The fifth-seeded Thais overcame Jelle Maas and Imke Van Der Aar of the Netherlands 21-19, 21-16 to set up a last-eight clash against either Lee Yang and Hsu Ya-ching of Taiwan or third seeds Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai of Malaysia at the BWF World Tour Super 300 tournament at Innogy Sporthalle in Mulheim.
Sapsiree is playing competitively for the first time since the 29th SEA Games in Malaysia last August following a long injury lay-off.
In the men's singles event, Suppanyu Avihingsanon crashed out to Kento Momota of Japan 16-21, 13-21.
Former world No.2 Momota has been restored to the top tier of Japan's national badminton team this season as he continues his comeback from a gambling scandal that ruled him out of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Momota became the first Japanese to win a men's singles world championship medal when he claimed bronze at Jakarta in 2015 and also won the Super Series Masters Final that year.
His career stumbled, however, when he was banned from the national team in April, 2016, for visiting an illegal casino and missed the Rio Games.
Sixth seed Nitchaon Jindapol was due to play Chen Xiaoxin of China in the women's singles event, while Kantaphon Wancharoen, who knocked out compatriot Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in the previous round, was scheduled to play Chinese third seed Shi Yuqi in the men's singles late last night.
Women's doubles stars Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, who are seeded sixth this week, were also due in action late last night.
