体坛英语资讯：Axelsen, Okuhara keep World Championships title defences on track_娱乐

体坛英语资讯：Axelsen, Okuhara keep World Championships title defences on track

NANJING, Aug. 1 -- Viktor Axelsen of Danmark and Nozomi Okuhara of Japan stayed on their course for the back-to-back men's and women's singles titles in the BWF World Championships, as both of them claimed straight-game wins here on Wednesday to storm into the third round of the competition.

World No.1 Viktor Axelsen defeated China's Huang Yuxiang 21-17, 21-8 in a match which interrupted by drops of water from the roof for over 10 minutes. The organizing committee explained later that it was the condensed water which collected because of the temperature difference in and out of the arena.

The unexpected incident happened in the first game when the duel tied at 16-16, and Huang has just managed a strong fight-back, winning five consecutive points to level the game.

"I was not prepared for the unexpected incident on the court. He went into the game much better after the break, I didn't get used to the new court as quickly as he did," Huang said. The home player only won nine points after the resumption, one in the first game and eight in the second.

China's world no.3 Shi Yuqi outclassed England's Rajiv Ouseph 21-18, 21-9 to earn himself a chance to take on compatriot Lin Dan for a place in the quarterfinals, the latter dispatched Verma Sameer of India 21-17, 21-14.

Shi was proactive from the very beginning of the match, starting with a 4-1 lead. But Ouseph proved a stern test for the no.3 seed with his sharp shots, chasing closely behind. The Englishman nearly drew level at 19-18 down, but gave away the first game with two subsequent errors.