ALL ENGLAND 2014 R16 – The Adcocks still waving the English flag!

Chris and Gabrielle Adcock showed their loyalty to their home crowd by marching towards the last eight after a glorious victory against Peter Kaesbauer and Isabel Herttrich.  Markis Kido and Gideon Markus Fernaldi are a step closer to repeat their French open victory after they swept away Olympic silver medallists Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen

By Tarek Hafi, Badzine Correspondent live in Birmingham.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

They proved their seeded status and proved it in the best way possible.  Chris and Gabrielle Adcock (pictured above) showed no mercy to their German opponents, Peter Kaesbauer and Isabel Herttrich, sending them back home 21-13, 21-15 in half an hour.

“We’ve definitely played better but I think it’s good to build your way into the tournament, I’m glad we’ve not played our best yet because hopefully that’s to come tomorrow and after that,” said Chris Adcock afterward.

A larger task is now to be asked of the English stars, as they will take on the Olympic champions Zhao Yunlei and Zhang Nan (pictured), whom look extremely fit after an express victory against Shin Baek Cheol and Eom Hye Won 21-8, 21-7.

“They’re obviously world number 1 for a reason but we have beaten them before so I think it’s one of those games where we’ve got nothing to lose, we can go out and give a good performance and hope for the best,” commented Chris and Gabrielle in their post-match interview.

Michelle Li (pictured below) keeps on re-writing her fairy tale.  The top Canadian player didn’t only get rid of her world number eight opponent Tai Tzu Ying yesterday; she also disposed of Bellaetrix Manuputty after a gruelling one hour and eighteen minutes, which was poised to earn the palm of the longest match of the day until Kakiiwa/Maeda capped off the evening with a whopping 101-minute marathon win over Bao/Tang.

The ever-improving Canadian player will now be asked to go through the current World Champion Ratchanok Intanon.

Another player is also living his “All England dream”.  Lee Dong Keun joined his more famous Son Wan Ho compatriot into the quarters after avenging his last week defeat against Sho Sasaki.  The Korean player showed no sign of pity for his opponent, exhibiting a never-say-die attitude that ended positively as he won his encounter in straight games.

“Before playing today I deeply analyzed his game to see what went wrong last week, and kept thinking I could win it if I gave it my all.  Fortunately it went well for me today,” said Lee, looking extremely satisfied with his performance.

In a match that Denmark’s Olympic silver medallists Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen hope will soon be forgotten, Markis Kido and his young partner Gideon Markus Fernaldi (pictured below), left nothing to chance in their second round encounter.  The French Open winners proved once again to be a pair to watch out in the next few months as they are quickly climbing the world ranking.

“I’m very happy with our performance but we are taking it step by step, though our aim before coming was the quarter final,” commented Gideon.  “We have improved recently, and I am learning a lot from Markis.  A lot of it is due to teamwork.”

The Indonesian pair will now be set to meet Macau Open champions and fifth seeds Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong.

Click here for complete Thursday results

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