Jiayuan, 16, stuns Commonwealth champ Hallam

SINGAPORE shuttler Chen Jiayuan caused a stunning upset at the Croatia Open yesterday.

The 16-year-old defeated Commonwealth Games singles champion Tracey Hallam of England 21-19, 21-19 in the first round.

The China-born player came to Singapore in 2005 under the Foreign Talent Scheme, but has yet to be granted citizenship or permanent resident status.

She met teammate Fu Mingtian late last night in the round of 16.

Mingtian, a 16-year-old permanent resident, had earlier defeated American Shannon Pohl 21-9, 21-7.

Said Jacqueline Lim, acting chief executive of the Singapore Badminton Association: 'It's a great result but a pity that the two girls have to meet so early on.'

No Chinese players were among the top seeds in the competition, considered second-tier to the Super Series.

Jiayuan, who at 1.73 metres is taller than most players her age, has been praised for her attacking ability.

The unexpected victory came on the back of a fruitful 2006, where she performed creditably in tournaments usually dominated by older players.

She reached the semi-finals of the Dutch Junior championship, an Under-19 competition.

At the one-star Vietnam Open and the Malaysia satellite tournament, she made the quarter-finals.

The full-time trainee with the SBA, who was unseeded, had to go through two qualifying rounds on Thursday to set up the match with Hallam, who was the top seed.

Jiayuan and Mingtian also played France's Elisa Chanteur and Laura Choinet in the women's doubles last night.

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lee lost to Malaysian Wong Choong Hann 12-21,17- 21 in the third round of the German Open in Mulheim.