Zulfadli leads Malaysian challenge in Korean GP

Former 2011 World Youth champion, Zulfadli Zulkiffli has entered the second round of the Korean Open Grand Prix Gold at the Jeonju Indoor Badminton Court, South Korea.

In the opening round Tuesday, the sixth seed easily disposed off Joo Young Yoon in straight sets of 21-12, 21-17, according to the Badminton World Federation website (www.bwfbadminton.org).

He will face another South Korean Ki Hoon Han in the second round who defeated former national player Kuan Beng Hong 22-20, 21-9.

The tournament's 10th seed, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, however, had to sweat for his win over Hyuk Jin Jeon, also of South Korea, in three sets, 22-20, 17-21 and 21-18.

Loh Wei Sheng also qualified for the second round with a 21-17, 21-13 victory over Dutch player Erik Meijs and he will face the hosts veteran player Lee Hyun-il in the second round.

Lee, who is also the former champion in 2008, moved to the second round after beating Chia-Hsin Wan of Taiwan, 21-14, 21-14.

Former 2003 All-England champion Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, however, lost to another Korean, Dong Ryung Kim in three sets, 21-18, 15-21 and 7-21.

Former national player and third seed of the tournament Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif suffered the biggest shock of the day when he was defeated by the hosts' Young Woong Ha in 21-18, 18-21 and 23-2.