HANGZHOU: National top men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia produced a magnificent fightback to stun reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn and check into the Hangzhou Asian Games quarter-finals at the Binjiang Gymnasium here today.
World number 16 Zii Jia, backed by a vociferous crowd, clinched a 10-21, 21-19, 21-6 win over world number four Kunlavut to make amends for missing out on the last eight in the 2018 edition in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia.
The 25-year-old Zii Jia got off to a shaky start, regained his composure to win the second game and then produced a dominant performance in the decider to send Kunlavut, who became Thailand's first-ever men's singles world champion in August, packing.
This is Zii Jia's fourth win over Kunlavut in seven meetings, with the Thai shuttler having won their last two encounters in the 2021 World Tour Finals and 2022 German Open.
In tomorrow's quarter-finals, former All England champion Zii Jia will take on HS Prannoy after the India shuttler downed Dmitriy Panarin of Kazakhstan 21-12, 21-13 today.
"Although I was behind by about seven points in the second game, I just tried everything I could. I knew that if I lost, it was the end for me. But, if the strategy worked, that's it... I would be able to overturn the situation.
"Despite having lost many times this year, I am still trying to turn things around... sometimes, it's just not your day. Had to accept them as a lesson... through this experience, I will be a more mature and experienced player," he told reporters.
On his match against Prannoy, Zii Jia said he would need to be more prepared as the world number seven "is a strong and consistent player".
Zii Jia advanced to the round of 16 after eliminating Mourinho Zefi Costa Gusmao De Jesus of Timor Leste yesterday, while Kunlavut edged Vietnam's Nguyen Hai Dang.
Meanwhile, Kunlavut said he didn't get to prepare well for the Asiad as he was hospitalised for three days due to influenza before leaving for Hangzhou.
Earlier, the national mixed doubles pair of Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei also advanced to the quarter-finals when they disposed of India's Sai Pratheek-Tanisha Crasto of India 21-18, 21-18.
The Malaysians, however, have the unenviable task of trying to stop defending Asian Games champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallists Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong of China tomorrow.
The world number one and three-time world champions progressed after trouncing Nepal's Bishnu Katuwal-Nangsal Tamang 21-4, 21-7.
Another national mixed doubles pair - Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie - failed to progress after going down 21-17, 21-23, 13-21 to Thailand's Supak Jomkoh-Supissara Paewsampran.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed Oct 04 2023
Lee Zii Jia clinched a 10-21, 21-19, 21-6 win over Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn to make amends for missing out on the last eight in the 2018 edition in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia. - BERNAMA
Pelaburan RM2.4 bilion dibawa masuk ke Terengganu - MB
Sebanyak RM2.4 bilion nilai pelaburan yang berpotensi sedang dibawa masuk ke Terengganu setakat bulan April ini.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Kelayakan akademik bukan isu calon PN - Pas
Kempen PN sempena PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu tidak akan terjejas berikutan isu yang mengaitkan kelayakan akademik calonnya, Khairul Azhari Saut.
Peniaga nasi kukus raih jualan RM14,000 sebulan
Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat (IPR) mampu merubah graf pendapatan bulanan peserta apabila meningkatkan hasil jualan.
Piala Uber: Malaysia tewas kepada Taiwan
Malaysia memulakan kempen Kumpulan B Piala Uber 2024 mereka dengan langkah kiri apabila tewas 1-4 kepada Taiwan, di sini hari ini.
Imigresen tahan dalang warga Indonesia, jual produk kosmetik tanpa kelulusan KKM
Jabatan Imigresen menahan seorang wanita warga Indonesia berusia 50 tahun disyaki menjadi dalang penjualan produk kosmetik dan kecantikan yang tidak mendapat kelulusan KKM.
Sheriff: 9 hari tayangan, kaut RM28 juta!
Filem arahan Syafiq Yusof, Sheriff: Narko Intergriti kini meraih kutipan sebanyak RM28 juta dalam 9 hari tayangan.
Jaheaik sudah panggil artis wanita tular buat persembahan - Exco
Jaheaik sudah panggil artis wanita tular buat persembahan - Exco
KidDin bergabung jawab segala isu Konsert Search 'Gemuruh'
KONSERT Search 'Gemuruh' nampaknya semakin diperkatakan disebabkan beberapa isu yang ditimbulkan sehari dua ini.
Penunjuk perasaan Palestin tempelak wartawan AS
Mereka menuduh wartawan A.S sembunyikan dan berikan gambaran salah mengenai perang di Gaza.
Lawatan ke Riyadh: Blinken melawat Arab Saudi esok
Setiausaha Negara Amerika Syarikat, Antony Blinken akan melawat Arab Saudi pada Isnin untuk bertemu dengan rakan serantau dan membincangkan usaha mencapai gencatan senjata di Gaza dan pembebasan tebusan Israel.
Thomas Cup: Permulaan cemerlang buat Malaysia
Malaysia bermula cemerlang pada perlawanan pembukaan Piala Thomas 2024, dengan menewaskan Hong Kong 5-0 hari ini.
Piala Thomas: Leong Jun Hao lakar kebangkitan, pastikan kemenangan Malaysia!
Leong Jun Hao melakar kebangkitan memastikan Malaysia memperoleh kemenangan ke atas wakil Hong Kong, Angus Ng Ka Long.
Piala Thomas: Zii Jia pamer magis tarik perhatian ramai di Chengdu
Zii Jia merekodkan kemenangan ke atas Lee Cheuk Yiu dalam aksi yang mengambil masa 45 minit menghadirkan saat-saat terbaik dalam saingan pembukaan ini.
Piala Thomas: Lee Zii Jia beri mata pertama buat Malaysia!
Kemenangan straight set benarkan Malaysia raih mata pertama dalam aksi peringkat kumpulan saingan Piala Thomas berdepan Hong Kong.
Thomas Cup: Zii Jia ketepikan 'kegoyahan' kem perseorangan lelaki negara
Lee Zii Jia tidak mahu terlalu memikirkan situasi kem perseorangan negara yang kurang mantap menjelang aksi pembukaan Kumpulan D saingan Piala Thomas 2024 berdepan Hong Kong, esok.
Badminton Masters Malaysia: Lee Zii Jia pilihan ke-8 kejohanan
Lee Zii Jia bakal menjadi pemain pilihan kelapan kejohanan Badminton Masters Malaysia dalam kategori perseorangan lelaki.
Piala Thomas: Zii Jia ikuti program latihan bersama Tat Meng
Perseorangan lelaki profesional negara Lee Zii Jia akan meneruskan program latihan yang telah dirancang oleh Pengarah Kejurulatihan TeamLZJ, Wong Tat Meng.
Sukan Olimpik: Malaysia secara tidak rasmi sudah ada 17 wakil ke Paris 2024
Kontinjen negara secara tidak rasmi kini telah memiliki 17 atlet yang akan bersaing dalam Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 pada Julai depan.
Isu pampasan: Patriotisme perlu atasi perkara lain
Menurutnya, keputusan BAM memperlihatkan betapa terdesaknya badan induk itu untuk mendapatkan khidmat pemain berkenaan.
Zii Jia sertai skuad negara ke Piala Thomas 2024
Selain Zii Jia, turut tersenarai pemain di ranking ke-18 Ng Tze Yong yang mendapat pelepasan sementara oleh pasukan perubatan untuk beraksi dalam kejohanan berpasukan berprestij itu.