National singles ace Lee Zii Jia overcame a spirited challenge from fellow Malaysian Justin Hoh to advance to the second round of the Kumamoto Masters in Japan. The match, lasting 62 minutes, saw Zii Jia pushed to his limits before sealing a hard-fought three-set victory.
The world number seven claimed the first set 21-16 but stumbled in the second, losing 12-21. Demonstrating his resilience, Zii Jia bounced back to clinch the deciding set 21-17 against the world number 49, who had shown remarkable determination despite a grueling qualification campaign.
Justin, 20, displayed his potential with an impressive performance, but fatigue from two prior qualifying matches led to unforced errors in the final stages. For Zii Jia, the win is crucial in his quest to secure a spot in the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, next month.
Currently ranked sixth in the race to Hangzhou with 69,900 points, Zii Jia holds a slim lead over Japan’s Koki Watanabe (67,530) and Kenta Nishimoto (65,780). With only the top seven players earning a berth, the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist is under immense pressure to maintain his position.
“This victory was critical for my journey to Hangzhou,” said Zii Jia. “Every match from here on is a must-win, and I need to stay focused.”
Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, the reigning Olympic champion, has already secured his place at the World Tour Finals, leaving a fierce battle among the remaining contenders for the limited spots.
Despite the loss, Justin’s performance underscored his potential as a rising star in Malaysian badminton. The 20-year-old showcased his ability to challenge top-ranked players and continues to gain valuable experience on the international stage.
Results of Kumamoto Masters 2024 Day 2
Men’s Single (Round of 32)
LEONG Jun Hao(MAS) losing to Lakshya SEN(IND) 1-2 (22-20, 17-21, 16-21)
Men’s Doubles (Round of 32)
LOW Hang Yee-NG Eng Cheong (MAS) losing to CHIU Hsiang Chieh-WANG Chi-Lin(TPE) 0-2 (14-21, 19-21)
Aaron CHIA-SOH Wooi Yik[4](MAS) win Daniel LUNDGAARD-Mads VESTERGAARD(DEN) 2-1 (21-15, 17-21, 9-21)
Women’s Doubles (Round of 32)
Vivian HOO-LIM Chiew Sien losing to Kaho OSAWA-Mai TANABE(JPN) 0-2(21-17, 21-16)
Mixed Doubles (Round of 32)
GOH Soon Huat-LAI Shevon Jemie[3](MAS) win Yuta WATANABE-Maya TAGUCHI (JPN) 2-1 (21-18, 12-21, 14-21)
CHEN Tang Jie-TOH Ee Wei[2](MAS) losing to Dechapol PUAVARANUKROH-Supissara PAEWSAMPRAN(THA) 0-2 (21-15, 21-12)
HOO Pang Ron-CHENG Su Yin(MAS) win Yuichi SHIMOGAMI-Sayaka HOBARA(JPN) 2-0 (21-18, 21-19)
WONG Tien Ci-LIM Chiew Sien(MAS) win Jesper TOFT-Amalie MAGELUND[8](DEN) 2-1 (20-22, 21-11, 12-21)
Credit Photo : VICTOR Malaysia
