Defending champion Viktor Axelsen beat fellow Dane Hans-Kristian Vittinghus today to reach the quarter-finals of the BWF Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur ©Getty Images

Defending champion Viktor Axelsen beat fellow Dane Hans-Kristian Vittinghus today to reach the quarter-finals of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur.

Axelsen, who had trouble with injuries to both ankles last year and is playing his first BWF World Tour tournament since the Denmark Open in October, fought off a 7-14 deficit to triumph 21-18, 21-19 at the Axiata Arena.

"It is really tough to play Hans, both mentally and in the game-plan," Axelsen said.

"We know each other so well.

"You saw in the first game Hans was leading really big and then I managed to step up.

"However, it could've gone either way if he had won the first game.

"So I was happy and lucky to go through."

Axelsen, the 2017 world champion, will play home favourite Lee Zii Jia in the last eight of the BWF World Tour Super 500 event.

Lee made his second straight BWF World Tour quarter-final by defeating Japan's Kenta Nishimoto, who had yesterday upset top-seeded compatriot Kento Momota, 21-15, 21-17.

China's Gao Fangjie retired injured from her match against Spain's Carolina Marin ©Getty Images
China's Gao Fangjie retired injured from her match against Spain's Carolina Marin ©Getty Images

The Malaysian was dominant throughout the 38-minute second-round clash, making light of the gulf in rankings between the two players - Nishimoto is world number nine compared to his number 37 ranking.

Elsewhere, sixth seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia survived a tight second game against India's Parupalli Kashyap to prevail 21-17, 25-23.

Victory sets up a quarter-final meeting with China's reigning Olympic champion Chen Long, who overcame Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 21-15, 21-18.

Last year's women's singles finalists, Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, will face each other in the last eight after comfortable wins in the second round.

Although Tai lost the first game to Denmark's Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt, she battled back in the second and third and came away with a 19-21, 21-12, 21-10 victory.

Reigning champion Intanon had less trouble in beating England's Chloe Birch 21-12, 21-10.

There was good news for hosts Malaysia with world junior champion Goh Jin Wei brushing aside China's Zhang Yiman 21-13, 21-10.

World and Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin of Spain advanced to the quarter-finals after China's Gao Fangjie retired injured with her opponent leading 21-16, 6-8.

Action in Kuala Lumpur is due to continue tomorrow.