Malaysian men’s singles player and World No. 7, Lee Zii Jia, advanced to the knockout stage after defeating Toma Junior Popov from France in the round of 16 men’s singles event of badminton at the Olympics 2024 held at Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Paris.
Zii Jia easily overcame his opponent in the first set, winning 21-13. Despite the strong support of the home crowd, Zii Jia remained composed and absorbed the pressure well.
In the second set, Popov opened the scoring, but Zii Jia quickly tied the game. The set progressed evenly, with Popov briefly taking the lead at 13-12 before Zii Jia equalized at 14-14. Both players continued to chase each other, reaching a tie at 20-20. However, Zii Jia ultimately secured the win with a 24-22 decision, concluding the match in 47 minutes.
This victory marked the fifth meeting between the two players, with Zii Jia winning all their encounters.
Credit Photo : OCM
