KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia continued his good run of late by beating India’s Kiran George 21-13, 21-18 to book his spot in the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Masters on Thursday (May 23).
World No. 10 Zii Jia captured his first title of the year in the Thailand Open on Sunday (May 19) and was again in commanding form when he secured the victory in 44 minutes much to the delight of the passionate home fans at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
The 26-year-old independent player will next go up against Denmark’s world No. 4 Anders Antonsen for a place in the last four.
However, it was the end of the road for another home representative as Leong Jun Hao went down 15-21, 16-21 to China’s reigning Asian Games gold medallist Li Shifeng.
It was a great day for Malaysia overall when Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, youngsters Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (men’s doubles), Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Tan Kian Meng-Li Pei Jing (mixed doubles) and women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah all reached the last eight.