The Chinese shuttlers have proved their top positions in the badminton world as they crowded into the last 16 both in the men's and women's singles at the China Open badminton championships in Guangzhou on Wednesday. 

Despite of losing men's singles title in the Athens Olympic Games, China showcased its strength in depth on Wednesday with nine into the 1/16 finals.

World No. 1 Li Dan, who made a shocking first-round exit in Athens, seemed back on the right track as he eased through his opener, beating South Korean Ahn Hyun-Suk 11-6, 11-3.

"I always worked hard and even harder after the Olympic defeat. I'm still world No. 1 and I never lost confidence in myself," he said.

While two other Chinese seeded shuttlers Bao Chunlai and Chen Hong also made the third round in straight sets, former world No. 1 Xia Xuanze was ousted by his 18-year-old countryman Chen Jin.

The 26-year-old lost to the world junior champion in straight sets 15-12, 15-5, and lamented that "I'm old and young guys would replace us very soon."

The last time they met was in the Chinese National Championships in September where Xia also lost. Chen has won the Poland Open and France Open titles this year in addition to his world junior champion.

Traditional power Malaysia has all its six shuttlers ousted as its leading shuttler Wong Choong-Hann was stopped at the second round by Chinese Li Yu 13-15, 15-2, and 15-0.

Wong quit the third set after losing the second, citing a bad cold.

And the Chinese women went even further. Led by Olympic champion Zhang Ning, they booked eleven berths in the last sixteen.

Their top four women's single players Zhang Ning, Zhou Mi, GongRuina and Xie Xingfang all cruised through and budding Li Wenyan conquered eighth-seeded Xu Huaiwen of Germany.

Women's doubles produced little thrill as all top eight seeds got their first-round byes.

In the mixed doubles, Dane Carsten Mogensen and Rikke Olsen surged into the quarterfinals, ousting fourth-seeded Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam of Thailand.

Olsen was newly paired with Mogensen after the Athens Games, allowing her former partner Jonas Rasmusen to concentrate on men's doubles.

Top seeded men's pair Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark got their first-round bye.

Dane No. 2 pair Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen beat Yan Chun-Yu and Hung Yuk-Wong of Chinese Hong Kong, but seventh-seeded Thomas Laybourn and Peter Steffensen were out, losing to South Korean Hwang Ji-Man and Han Sang-Hoon in full sets.

Indonesia's former top double Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, who split last year but were reunited recently, also moved into the second round.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2004)