BIRMINGHAM, Britain, March 7 -- Defending champion Shi Yuqi of China eased past Malaysia's Liew Daren to reach the quarterfinals of the All England Open badminton championships here on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Shi, who had upset six-time winner Lin Dan to win his first major title, took only 33 minutes to defeat the 33-year-old Liew 21-8, 21-10.
"My opponent did not play well and an ankle injury made his game harder," said the second seed. "I always tried my best and never eased up despite leading by a big margin."
Shi, who was beaten by Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in the 2017 final, said he is confident when he takes on Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama, who shocked Lin Dan in the first round on Wednesday.
"I won the champion last year and runner-up the year before last. I feel very comfortable and familiar playing here. I give myself eight out of 10 points for today's performance."
Shi became the only Chinese men's player to reach the quareterfinals after Huang Yuxiang and Chen Guangzu both crashed out in the second round.
Huang was stopped by Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia 22-24, 21-17, 21-16 while Chen was beaten by former world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.
Top seed Kento Momota of Japan also booked a berth in the last eight after beating Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand 21-19, 21-11. He will next face seventh seed Srikanth Kidambi of India.
In the women's competition, China has secured three out of eight places in the quarterfinals.
Li Xuerui beat teammate Chen Xiaoxin 21-14, 21-12, third seed Chen Xufei defeated Japan's Aya Ohori 21-6, 17-21, 21-19 and sixth seed He Bingjiao fought back from one set down to beat Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong 15-21, 21-15, 21-14.
Top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, bidding for a third successive champion, beat Zhang Beiwen of the United States and will meet India's Saina Nehwal.
Second seed Nozomi Okuhara of Japan booked her berth in the quarterfinals with a victory over teammate Sayaka Takahashi and set up a showdown against China's Li.
To fall at the first hurdle 跌倒在第一关
Pull something out of the hat 突施妙计
Pain in the neck 令人讨厌的事情或人
It takes two to tango 一个巴掌拍不响
Get someone's goat 火冒三丈
Clean up your act 改邪归正
Online Shopping 网上购物-英语点津
One good turn deserves another 以德报德,礼尚往来
In good nick 品质好、没有损坏
Would you let your baby sleep in a box? 你愿意让自己的宝宝在盒子里睡觉吗?
The university of life 生活经历
A cashless society 无现金社会
You're pulling my leg! 你在愚弄我!
Until I'm blue in the face 任凭你磨破嘴皮
Crash course 速成课
A recipe for disaster 后患无穷
Cheap and cheerful 物美价廉
Lights! Camera! English! 灯光,摄像机,英语!
Earth-like planet, Pink cockatoo dies at 83 类地行星,83岁风头鹦鹉逝世
There's method to my madness 我有一个不合常理的办法
Bust a gut 拼了命地工作
Reunion? Count me out! 重聚? 别算上我!
To make a mountain out of a molehill 小题大做
Glass-bottomed bridge, cancer risk for HRT and 120-year-old man 世界最长玻璃桥开放,荷尔蒙替代疗法增患癌风险,印度教120岁僧人
Going forward 从今往后
Bye bye Big Ben's bongs 与大本钟的钟声暂时告别
A bitter pill to swallow 不得不吞的苦药
Hot potato 棘手的问题“烫手山芋”
The last/final straw 忍无可忍,使人最终崩溃的一击
To make a monkey out of me 捉弄我