KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 — Malaysia’s top men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia produced a sizzling display as he trounced Japanese player, Kanta Tsuneyama to book a place in the last four of the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) 2022 in Manila, Philippines, yesterday.
The world number seven Zii Jia, was true in red hot form from start to finish in the quarter-finals, as he needed just 36 minutes to oust Tsuneyama in straight sets, 21-13, 21-11, in the tournament held in Muntinlupa Sports Complex.
The third seed shuttler will face off with unseeded Chinese player, Weng Hong Yang in a semi-final clash today for a final slot.
Hong Yang had earlier created a huge upset against second seed, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia in rubber sets, 21-13, 16-21, 21-11.
Meanwhile, German Open 2022 men’s doubles champions, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani continued their fine run at this tournament as they subdued Ren Xiang Yu-Tan Qiang from China, 21-19, 21-14.
Malaysia will surely have one pair in the final after Tokyo Olympics 2020 bronze medallists, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik came from behind to beat Indian pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, 12-21, 21-14, 21-16, to meet Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin today.
However, another Malaysian duo, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun failed to sail into the last four after they were eliminated by Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto, 21-16, 21-16.
In the meantime, national women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, seeded seventh, failed to maintain their lead in the opening set before they were sent home packing by the fourth seeds pair of Japan, Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota, 21-14, 19-21, 16-21.
Despite showing a good fight in the first set, Malaysia’s only hope in the mixed doubles category, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing eventually lost to Japanese pair, Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino, 18-21, 5-21.
— Bernama
