KUALA LUMPUR – Independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia came out on top in a hard-fought three-set battle in the first round of the Indonesia Masters at the Istora Senayan Indoor Stadium in Jakarta.
Facing the threat from India’s world number 25 S. Kidambi, Zii Jia had to mount a comeback after losing the first set to win the match 19-21, 21-14, 21-11 in 54 minutes.
The world number 10 had shown improvement at the India Open last week having made it all the way to the quarter-finals before bowing out.
Zii Jia did better compared to his outing in the Malaysia Open two weeks ago where he exited in the first round.
However, in the second round tomorrow, the 25-year-old will face Wong Choong Hann’s charge Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong.
Earlier, independent mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing had to battle against Mathias Thyrri-Amalie Magelund from Denmark to win in three sets 21-19, 18-21, 21-19 in an hour and five minutes.
It will be an all-Malaysian battle in the next round as Kian Meng-Pei Jing will face another independent pair of Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See.
National mixed doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee almost pulled off an upset over world number sevens Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun but could not overcome the grit of the South Koreans as they bowed out 19-21, 30-28, 21-13 in an hour and 10 minutes.
At the same time, mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai defeated Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat from Thailand 21-15, 21-15 in 31 minutes.
Men’s singles player Leong Jun Hao pulled off an upset over world number 11 Kenta Nishimoto.
The world number 37 won 21-17, 21-17 in straight sets to seal his place in the second round of the Super 500 tournament. – January 24, 2024