KUALA LUMPUR – Independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia made amends for his first-round exit at the Malaysia Open last week by advancing to the second round of the India Open.
Last week, the world number 10 was sent packing at home by world number 17 Lu Guangzu of China, 16-21, 21-19, 21-15 at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
But at the K.D. Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi today, Zii Jia faced the challenge of world number 24 Brian Yang of Canada and did not face any issues triumphing in straight sets 21-17, 21-19 in 46 minutes.
The 25-year-old had a shaky end to the second set when he was leading 20-16, as Yang strung together three points to mount a mini comeback and got the score to 20-19.
But Kedah-born Zii Jia managed to close the second set by winning the next point.
He will next play the winner of the match between Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong and Jonatan Christie of Indonesia.
Earlier, national men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani swatted aside the challenge of Adam Dong-Nyl Yakura of Canada in straight sets, 21-11, 21-5, in just 30 minutes.
However, national number one mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei were made to sweat after losing the first set against their opponents.
But they were able to rally to take the next two sets against world number 19 Indonesian pair Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari 14-21, 21-11, 21-11 in 55 minutes.
They will face Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand in the second round tomorrow.
Unfortunately, the draw was not kind to Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing after they were drawn to face Malaysia Open champions Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino of Japan and swiftly lost 21-7, 21-12 in 35 minutes. – January 17, 2024