Lee Zii Jia saved the blushes of the Malaysian contingent after becoming the only home shuttler to win on day two of the Malaysia Masters with a 21-12, 21-19 victory over Lu Guang Zu.
The men’s singles ace saved the best for last as he came out guns blazing to take the first game comfortably.
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In the second game, Lu started causing him problems and looked poised to make it level as he held a 18-11 lead.
But with the crowd at the Axiata Arena fully behind him, Lee staged the insurmountable comeback for the 45-minute victory.
“I was ready for the rubber game, but I managed to stay calm and take my chances as they came. I stayed patient and the strategy worked. It’s a new week, but my confidence is there after doing well in China last week,” said Lee, who will next face Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi.
Kemenangan sulung kem negara pada hari ke-2 diraih perseorangan ??,Lee Zii Jia apabila menewaskan perseorangan ??,Lu Guang Zu 21-12,21-19
— wan muiz (@muiz_aziz07) May 24, 2023
Plus Zii Jia talks about Wong Tat Meng as coach and confirms that this is his full team?@ASTROARENA pic.twitter.com/aPJdhBFS58
Earlier, the fans had nothing to cheer about after all Malaysian representatives crashed out, with all mixed doubles pairs leading the exit
While fifth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei fared better to push their opponents to three games, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See lost in limp fashion.
After the exits of the mixed doubles, Goh Jin Wei lost 17-21, 21-17, 15-21 against Yvonne Li of Germany.
Goh was too distraught after the 61-minute defeat as she broke down in tears.
“I hope to have taken better care of myself. I had all the facilities at the National Sports Institute while preparing to play at the Sudirman Cup. But once I returned home, I had to seek private treatment,” she said.
Men’s doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Tan Wee Kiong were next to be shown the exit door after bowing out 23-21, 14-21, 16-21 against Scottish pair Alexander Dunn.
Ng Tze Yong also faltered in the men’s singles as he suffered a 21-17, 16-21, 13-21 defeat to Kenta Nishimoto.
#PERODUAMalaysiaMasters2023 Round of 16 is here! ?
— Stadium Astro ?? (@stadiumastro) May 24, 2023
Stream LIVE on @AstroGOmy: https://t.co/LB6YrfdDnZ pic.twitter.com/TfTNkQsyR9
