KUALA LUMPUR: Leong Jun Hao has bolstered compatriot Ng Tze Yong's chances of securing a last-minute qualification for the Paris Olympics.
World No. 37 Jun Hao dealt a blow to last week's Swiss Open champion, Lin Chun Yi of Taiwan, winning 21-17, 21-18 to advance to the quarter-finals of the Spain Masters in Madrid on Thursday.
This victory holds significance not only for Jun Hao individually but also for Tze Yong, as Chun Yi posed a great threat to Tze Yong's Olympic aspirations.
Had Chun Yi progressed to at least the final in Madrid this week, he would have surpassed Tze Yong in the Race to Paris standings, now at 17th.
Similar to Tze Yong, Chun Yi, presently ranked 18th, is racing against time to break into the top 16 during the closing phase of the one-year qualification period, vying for the second quota for Taiwan.
At present, Chun Yi's compatriot, 14th-ranked Chou Tien Chen, appears set to secure the first spot.
The 16th position is currently held by China's Weng Hong Yang.
Although Hong Yang is already out of contention, with compatriots Shi Yu Qi and Li Shi Feng having secured their spots, both Tze Yong and Chun Yi must still break into the top 16 to punch their ticket to the Paris Games in July.
Tze Yong and Chun Yi will now battle it out at the Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, from April 9-14, with a glimmer of hope to clinch a spot in the top 16.
As for Jun Hao, he will now aim to build on the solid momentum by pulling off another upset over his next challenger, Tien Chen.
Former world No. 2 Tien Chen, at 34, showed he still has plenty of gas left in the tank, continuing his good run from last week's Swiss Open, where he finished runner-up to Chun Yi.
The last time Jun Hao fared better than a quarter-final on the World Tour was during the KL Masters Malaysia Super 100 in November.
A strong performance this week would certainly boost his chances of earning a spot in the Thomas Cup in Chengdu, China, next month.
Malaysia's challenge in the men's doubles remains alive, as Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King advanced past the last-16 stage.
Arif-Roy King saved three match points en route to an 18-21, 21-15, 24-22 success over Taiwan's Lu Chen-Po Li Wei.
They next play India's Dhruv Kapila-M.R. Arjun.
