KUALA LUMPUR – The overwhelming support from the home crowd at Porte de La Chapelle Arena did not faze national men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia, who defeated Toma Junior Popov to advance to the quarter-finals.
Despite dominating the first set, Zii Jia faced fierce resistance as Popov made a comeback in the second set. However, the seventh seed utilised all his experience to secure a victory with a score of 21-13, 24-22.
Facing a player like Popov was no easy task as he had the strong support of local fans and entered the match with renewed vigour after his surprise win over Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Anthony Sinisuka Ginting the previous day, which secured him the top spot in Group H.
“It was a tough game in the second match. I was expecting to get into this rubber set because the crowd here is very crazy.
“Popov, once again, played a very good game today. And I’ve played against him several times. He’s in top form right now.”
Thus, Zii Jia’s victory over Popov marks a significant improvement from his debut at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Back then, his run was halted at this stage by Chinese star Chen Long, who went on to win the silver medal.
“I just focused on maintaining my composure and concentrating on the positives. That’s all I aimed to do.
“First and foremost, I focused on keeping myself calm because getting overly excited could impact my concentration. You know, maintaining focus is crucial,” said Zii Jia in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
This victory also brings him closer to his long-held dream of winning the gold medal, a goal the entire Malaysian contingent has been aspiring for.
However, his next challenge in the quarter-finals will be against his close friend Anders Antonsen, who had the advantage of not competing today due to a bye.
Through their eight previous encounters, Antonsen holds a psychological edge with five wins.
Nevertheless, Zii Jia secured the last victory in their recent match at the Malaysia Masters in May.
“This is a breakthrough for me. Tomorrow will be a tough match because our last encounter was at the Malaysia Masters, and now at the Olympics, all players will be more excited and focused.
“I don’t have a specific plan to face him tomorrow; I just hope to perform my best,” he added. – August 1, 2024