KUALA LUMPUR – Independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia smashed his way to the second round of the Super 750 China Masters by defeating compatriot Ng Tze Yong at the Shenzhen Bay Gymnasium today.
In their third meeting of the year, world number 11 Zii Jia had a little scare in the second set against Tze Yong but rallied to win the match 21-15, 20-22, 21-17 in a fiery encounter that lasted 75 minutes.
The 25-year-old Zii Jia will face China’s world number 16 Lu Guangzu in the second round.
Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah ended their journey in the opening round after a defeat to South Korea’s world number 11s, Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong.
The world number 12 Malaysian pair battled hard against the South Koreans but could not keep up with their opponents’ retaliation, falling 11-21, 21-15, 20-22 in three-sets.
Malaysia’s disappointing run continued as mixed doubles Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie were defeated by Hong Kong’s Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet.
The world number 14 pair lost 17-21, 20-22 in straight sets against the top-seeded Hong Kong shuttlers in a 35-minute match.
In another mixed doubles match, Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing were unable to progress to the second round as they succumbed to Singapore’s world number 26 pair, Terry Hee and Jessica Tan, in a 41-minute match.
The 16-21, 21-23 result marked their third defeat to the Singaporean pair in three meetings.
Terry and Jessica’s next challenge will be against South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yoo-jung in tomorrow’s second round. – November 22, 2023