Top seed Chen Hong of China made an early exit in the third round of the China Open badminton championships as he was beaten by Denmark's former world number one Peter Gade Thursday in Guangzhou.

Chen, ranked number one in the world, raced to a 10-0 lead in the first set but the 11th-seeded Dane gradually found his rhythm with active intercepts and powerful smashes.

After extending his lead to 14-6, Chen, all of a sudden, seemed to have lost his nerve and was unable to gather himself together.

The 27-year-old Gade staged a brave comeback and miraculously won the set 17-16.

Chen, winner of the Malaysia Open and Singapore Open this season, posed no threat to Gade in the second set while Gade continued his terrific play by mixing up various shots, winning the set and the match 15-4.

"I slacked my mind when leading the first game by 10 points and never made myself composed, while Peter played very well," Chen explained.

"I dare not expect the men's singles title at this tournament because I returned to training only three weeks ago from an injury sustained in Denmark Open last month. So actually I am only 70 percent of my form."

Gade, quarter-finalist of the Denmark Open, said, "I have regained my form while my peer is not, so I have full confidence in winning this game. I feel sparkled when I came back to win the first set. But I have to admit this is really a stand-up fight."

World champion Xia Xuanze of China overcame a back injury to win the first set against Malaysian new hand Lee Chong Wei 17-16 but lost the second 10-15.

In the decider, trailing 12-8, the third seed got stirred up being cheered by a standing ovation from the home spectators, collecting seven points without any answer 15-12.

In women's singles event, top seed Gong Ruina of China, also the defending champion, and her compatriot Zhou Mi, semifinalist of the World Championships 2003, enjoyed the luxury of their rivals' walkover.

Another Chinese Zhang Ning, winner of the World Championships this August, beat her teammate Liu Jian 11-6, 11-4.

22-year-old Chinese Xie Xingfang, winner of this year's Indonesia Open, lifted a comfortable victory over Hollander Karina De Wit with an identical score of 11-6. Dutch woman Mia Audina Tjiptawan, winner of the Chinese Taipei Open last week, overpowered her compatriot Yao Jie, winner of the Dutch Open 2003, 11-3 and 11-8.

In the men's doubles, Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark defeated Indonesians Tri Kush Aryanto/Sigit Budiarto 15-8, 13-15, 15-8.

Third-seeded Ha Tae Kwon/Kim Dong Moon of South Korea, disposed of their compatriots Yim Bang Eun/Kim Yong Hyun 17-14, 15-8.

Chinese Sang Yang/Zheng Bo, who trashed second seeds Eriksen Jens/Lundgaard Hansen Martin from Denmark in the first round, beat Liu Kwok Wa/Albertus Susanto Njoto of Hong Kong of China 15-8, 15- 8.

Four pairs of Chinese women's doubles shuttlers made through for quarter-finals, including Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen, Zhang Dan/ Zhang Yawen, Gao Ling/Huang Sui and Wei Yili/Zhao Tingting.

Mia Audina Tjiptawan/Lotte Bruil-Jonathans, fouth seeds of the Netherlands, toppled Chien Yu-Chin/Cheng Wen-Hsing of Chinese Taipei 15-13, 11-15, 15-13, while Ella Tripp/Joanne Wright of England lost to fifth-seeded Danish Rikke Olsen/Ann-Lou Jorgensen 15-7, 15-3.

Zhang Jun/Gao Ling, top seeds in the mixed doubles, made through by overwhelming Sudket Prapakamol/Sarale Thungthongkam of Thailand 15-6, 15-6.

Michael Lamp/Ann-Lou Jorgensen of Denmark toppled Zhang lei/Yu Yang of China 15-5, 15-9. Third-seeded Danish Jonas Rasmussen/ Rikke Olsen lost to Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms of England 15-6, 13- 15, 15-13. Chinese pair Chen Qiqiu/Zhao Tingting downed Jens Eriksen/Mette Schjoldager of Denmark 15-12, 13-15, 15-2.

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