Asian Games: Tze Yong beats former world champion, Zii Jia to face current one

Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong made it to the Asian Games third round with convincing victories, as Lee posted a perfect 21-0 score in his first game, while Ng overcame former world champion Loh Kean Yew.

The second day of the individual event in Hangzhou, China, proved fruitful for the Malaysian contingent with the men’s singles department once again grabbing the attention.

Lee was expected to cruise past his Timor Leste opponent, but his 21-0 win to take the first game perhaps came as a surprise.

To his credit, his opponent Mourinho Zefi Costa managed to nick seven points off the Malaysian in the second game to soften the blow of the defeat.

In a heartwarming moment after the match, Mourinho gifted Lee with a scarf in a gesture of genuine respect and sportsmanship.

Lawan Zii Jia tadi siap ada gift untuk bagi idola lepas match. The respect of meeting one of the bests ?@ASTROARENA pic.twitter.com/PgIXXpG48X
— Fariha Razak (@farihaarazak) October 3, 2023

But Lee is aware that his next opponent, world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn should pose all sorts of threats.

“Kunlavut has been playing well and is consistent this year. It will be a tough match,” he said.

Ng made it a double entry for Malaysia in the men’s singles after he beat Loh 21-12, 21-14 in a 45-minute victory.

Even though the Singaporean looked far from his best, Ng stuck to his gameplan and hurt the Singaporean by staying patient and striking at the right moment for his second consecutive win over the speedy shuttler.

The world number 19 goes up against Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen in the third round.

Tze Yong tebus kekalahan tempoh hari dengan aksi garang berdepan Loh Kean Yew, terus menang straight sets 21-12, 21-14.Dia cakap sorry, kita terus….? Jangan sesedih dah kay Yong ?@ASTROARENA #AsianGames2022 pic.twitter.com/zT8mEuQjPp
— Fariha Razak (@farihaarazak) October 3, 2023

In other matches, national women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah also win in straight games over their Singaporean opponents to fnext ace Thai pair Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajonglai.

Women's singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei also made it into round three but must be at her best when she takes on Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.

Meanwhile, Goh Pei Kee-Valeree Siow and K. Letshaana were eliminated after they suffered straight game defeats.