Lee Zii Jia showcased his trademark resilience and fighting spirit as the Malaysian star successfully navigated the qualifying rounds of the SATHIO GROUP Australian Badminton Open 2026, booking his place in the men’s singles main draw after two hard-fought victories at Quaycentre, Sydney.
The former All England champion entered the Super 500 tournament through the qualification route and was immediately tested by a pair of determined Japanese opponents. However, Lee demonstrated his experience and composure when it mattered most, overcoming both challenges to keep Malaysia’s hopes alive in Sydney.
Lee’s opening match proved far from straightforward as he faced Japan’s Shogo Ogawa in the Round of 16 qualifying stage.
The Malaysian needed to dig deep in a tense contest, edging the first game 24-22 before once again holding his nerve in another close battle to seal the second game 22-20.
Despite being pushed to the limit, Lee’s ability to deliver in the crucial moments allowed him to progress without dropping a game.
Awaiting Lee in the qualifying quarter-finals was another Japanese challenger, Riki Takei.
The Malaysian looked in control after claiming the opening game 21-15, but Takei fought back strongly to take the second game 21-17 and force a decider.
With a place in the main draw on the line, Lee responded in emphatic fashion. The world-class Malaysian raised his intensity in the third game and regained control of the match, eventually securing a 21-16 victory to complete a hard-earned three-game triumph.
The result confirmed Lee’s qualification for the main draw and highlighted the determination that has made him one of Malaysia’s leading badminton stars.
Men’s singles shuttler Ming Hong Lim emerged as one of Malaysia’s standout performers in the qualification draw.
The Malaysian first overcame compatriot Garret Tan in straight games, winning 21-10, 21-19 to secure a place in the qualifying quarter-finals.
He then continued his impressive run by defeating India’s fourth-seeded qualifier Saneeth Dayanand 21-9, 21-16, displaying confidence and composure against a higher-ranked opponent.
However, Ming’s campaign ended one match short of the main draw after he and partner Stella Pan were beaten in the mixed doubles qualifying quarter-finals by Indonesia’s Rizky Hidayat and Laudya Chelsea Griselda. Despite forcing a decider, the Malaysian pair fell 21-18, 17-21, 21-14.
Another positive result for Malaysia came through Eugene Ewe, who booked his place in the next stage with a convincing straight-games victory over India’s Manraj Singh.
Ewe needed just 39 minutes to complete a 21-11, 21-18 win, maintaining Malaysia’s strong presence in the men’s singles qualification bracket
Credit Photo : BAT
