Robert Blair and Gabby White have stormed their way into the quarter-finals of the Proton Malaysian Open following their fourth victory of the week in Kuala Lumpur.

The pair, who came through two rounds of qualifying on Tuesday and the first round yesterday, defeated China’s world No 51 ranked duo Xu Chen and Yu Yang 21-19 21-14.

Blair and White trailed 17-14 in the opener but pulled level at 19-19 then secured the next two points to take the first game.

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In the second a strong lead meant the pair were always ahead, finishing powerfully by winning three points in a row to take the second game 21-14 and clinch the win after 31 minutes.

Now down to the last eight they will face either Japan’s Shintaro ikeda and Reiko Shiota or Thailand’s Super Series finalists Songphon Anugritayawan and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul. Ikeda and Shiota knocked out Thai top seeds Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam in yesterday’s first round.

The pair appear to have avoided the sickness that has hit their team-mates in Kuala Lumpur this week.

Currently ranked No 116 in the world, reaching the last eight will give them a ranking boost into the top 100.

Jessica Whittington, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine