Rajiv Ouseph produced one of his best Super Series displays today when he came within a handful of points of beating second seed Peter Gade in the Korea Open second round in Seoul.

Ouseph (Middx) went down 23-21 22-20 against the former All England and two-time European champion but he gave the Dane a real fright.

The English National champion saved a game point at 20-19 in the opener and then had one of his own at 21-20 before Gade took the first game. In the second game Ouseph looked like levelling the match when he led 19-14 before Gade turned the screw with a six-point run to earn match point at 20-19.

Ouseph saved the first match point but Gade went on to take the contest at his second opportunity after a 45-minute battle. The Dane is the only European-born player through to the last eight in either singles event.

Minutes earlier England’s other remaining hope, Avon’s Carl Baxter, put up an equally bold display against fourth seed Bao Chunlai. Baxter kept China’s 2006 world runner-up on court for 48 minutes before being edged out 21-17 21-18.

The seven-strong England squad in Korea will now head for the Proton Malaysian Open, starting on Tuesday. They will be joined be doubles stars Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark (both Notts), who will launch his new mixed doubles partnership with Heather Olver (Sussex).

Squad for Malaysia: Men’s Singles: Andrew Smith (Hants), Rajiv Ouseph (Middx), Carl Baxter (Avon).
Men’s doubles: Chris Adcock (Notts) & Robert Blair (Leics), Nathan Robertson & Anthony Clark (both Notts).
Women’s doubles: Jenny Wallwork & Gabby White (both Yorks).
Mixed doubles: Adcock & White, Robertson & Wallwork, Clark & Heather Olver (Sussex).

To view the Korea results and the draw for Malaysia check out www.tournamentsoftware.com
For further information contact William Kings on 07787 51 53 53