PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia knows that miracles do not happen overnight.
That’s why he is ready to put aside his disappointing exit in the first round of the Korean Open last week and gear up for a better showing at the Japan Open which begins today in Tokyo.
Zii Jia lost to Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long in three games in his opening round in Yeosu, which was his first tournament after a brief break from competitions.
It was also Zii Jia’s first tournament under the guidance of new coach Wong Tat Meng but a more settled Zii Jia, believes he can clear the early rounds at least.
“Disappointed at this edition of the Korean Open. But the grind continues with Master Tat Meng and with the help from a few familiar faces,” Zii Jia had stated on his social platform under Team LZJ banner.
“Working for a better outcome at the Japan Open (this week).”
Japan Open could offer a relief for word No. 17 Zii Jia who will be facing world No. 11 Kenta Nishimoto of Japan in his opening match.
Zii Jia has beaten Nishimoto five times in six meetings and with Tat Meng by his side, he should get past the first round which had been his bane for some time.
The true test, however, should surface in the second round where he is likely to meet the fast rising world No. 3 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) shuttler Ng Tze Yong, quarter-finalist at the Korean Open, will have his work cut out as former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore is in his way in the first round.
Kean Yew was in fine form en route to finishing as the runner-up to Anders Antonsen of Denmark in the final on Sunday.
Japan Open also will see world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen returning for the title hunt after winning the Indonesian Open last month, which was his first tournament since suffering a hamstring injury during the Sudirman Cup in China in May.
Axelsen has a possible last eight clash against All-England champion Li Shifeng of China.
In the women’s singles, independent shuttler Goh Jin Wei is the sole Malaysian representative and will be meeting old foe Yeo Jia Kin of Singapore in the opening match.
Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are also on a collision course against world No. 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan of China in a possible women’s doubles second round clash should they win against another China pair Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning in the opener. Pearly-Thinaah took the Olympic silver medallists Qingchen-Yifan to three games in the second round in South Korea before losing.
In the mixed doubles, BAM pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will be hoping to avoid another first round exit when they meet Dutch pair Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek in their opening match.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei were unfortunate to meet compatriots Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in the first round last week and were shown the exit.
Soon Huat-Shevon, who lost in the last 16 last week, open their campaign against veteran Korean pair Ko Sung-hyun-Eom Hye-won.
The other independent pairs in the fray are Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See.
