India Open: Zii Jia enjoys 'home' support to win, will next face Jonatan Christie

Lee Zii Jia marched into the India Open second round after he notched a 21-17, 21-19 victory over Canada’s Brian Yang with a certain section of the home fans fully behind the Malaysian.

Accompanying Lee into the next round were also Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin.

Lee, who is aiming to bounce back after suffering a first round exit at the Malaysia Open last week, did not make it easy for himself despite coming away with a straight game 21-17, 21-19 victory against Brian Yang.

The world number 10 found the net a couple of times with his smashes in the first game, and was trailing 13-17 against the Canadian who looked poised to win.

But credit to Lee, he ensured a cleaner game without as many smashes and as a result racked up eight consecutive points to claim the opener.

Lee had a different problem in the second game, as he struggled to convert the outright win with a 20-16 lead.

Yang collected three points before Lee eventually crossed the line.

The shuttler enjoyed some home support, with a certain section of fans holding up banner of "Saya sokong Zii Jia" (I support Zii Jia).

He will now face Indonesian Jonatan Christie on Thursday.

National mixed doubles pair Chen-Toh meanwhile came through with a hard fought 14-21, 21-11, 21-11 victory against Indonesia’s Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas, and will go to face sixth seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerratanachai next.

Two national men's doubles pairs also came through.

Goh-Izzuddin ran out easy winners against their Canadian opponents, but have a tough encounter against Chinese pair Liu Yu Chen-Ou Xuan Yi on Thursday.

They were joined by Chia-Soh , who beat Japanese pair Akira Koga-Taichi Sato 21-9, 19-21, 21-14.

The fourth seeds will face another Japanese pair for a place in the last eight.

National women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah and mixed doubles duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai are among those who will also see action in the second round on Thursday.