Lee Zii Jia made an excellent start to the Swiss Open after beating new All-England champion Li Shi Feng with a pulsating 18-21, 21-18, 23-21 victory in Basel on Wednesday.
The world number four had lost in the All-England semi-finals last week to Shi Yu Qi, who was beaten in straight games in the final by Li.
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Against Lee, the Chinese took the lead but the Malaysian levelled with a 21-18 success in the second to force the decider.
He found the composure needed to come away with the 72-minute victory, and next plays Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen in the second round.
In the mixed doubles, two pairs progressed so far.
Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei beat Switzerland’s Nicolas A.Mueller-Ronja Stern 21-11, 21-13 to set up a meeting with He Ji Ting-Du Yue.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai joined them after they recorded a huge 13-21, 21-15, 22-20 triumph over Indonesian pair Praveen Jordan-Melati Daeva Oktavianti, and next face a Chiu Hsiang-Chieh-Lin Xiao-Min of the Chinese Taipei.
Another Malaysian pair Hoo Pang Ron-Teoh Mei Xing lost in three games, along with men’s doubles pair Boon Xin Yuan-Wong Tien Ci.
