The Malaysian badminton star, Lee Zii Jia, kicked off his campaign at the Toyota Thailand Open 2024 with a promising start at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok.
Lee faced China’s Lei Lan Xi in the men’s singles and secured a win in two sets, 21-17 and 23-21.
When asked about his opponent, Lee commented, “It’s a tough game in the first round. I’m happy to win and hope to get a good rest to fight again in tomorrow’s game.”
Reflecting on the match, Lee added, “In the second set, he changed his gameplay and tactics, which was successful. However, I tried to settle down and remain calm, and I ended up winning the set.”
Lee will face Korea’s Jeon Hyeok Jin tomorrow. Jeon defeated Lee in last year’s Asian Games. “Jeon Hyeok Jin will be a tough opponent; it will be a tough game tomorrow,” Lee remarked.
Regarding his preparation for the Paris Olympics 2024, Lee mentioned there are a few tournaments left to play, which he hopes will help him accumulate ranking points for Olympic qualification.
Lee expressed his determination to win again in Thailand, reminiscing about his 2022 Thailand Open victory against Li Shi Feng from China. “With that spirit and taking it match by match, I hope to win again in Thailand this year,” he said.
Lee concluded the interview by thanking Malaysian fans for their unwavering support.
Credit Photo : BAT
