Phạm Cao Cường is in Maldives International Challenge badminton tournament's quarter-finals. — Photo bongdaplus.vn

HÀ NỘI — Vũ Thị Trang and Phạm Cao Cường advanced to the next round of the Maldives International Challenge badminton tournament on September 26.

Cường defeated Niluka Karunaratne of Sri Lanka 21-19, 20-22, 21-19 in the men’s singles third round.

He will next meet Sirill Verma of India in the quarter-finals. Verma yesterday sent Vietnamese raising star Nguyễn Hải Đăng home after a 23-21, 19-21, 21-18 match, making Cường the only male athlete of Việt Nam at the tournament.

Earlier, Việt Nam’s top player Nguyễn Tiến Minh who is seeded No 3 here was shocked after losing to No 12 Sergey Sirant of Russia 21-23, 16-21.

On the women’s side, Trang is in the semi-finals after winning two games yesterday. She easily beat Kobita Dookhee of Mauritius 21-3, 21-5 in the second round. In the quarter-final, Trang led 9-1 over Ozge Bayrak of Turkey in first set before Bayrak retired.

Number three seed Trang will see No 7 Qi Xuefei of France in the last four. — VNS