A technical foul at 19-19 in the deciding game cost Lee Zii Jia a place in the All-England Championships final as the Malaysian lost 21-17, 13-21, 19-21 to Viktor Axelsen in a scintillating 73-minute encounter.
Lee had been on song at the Super 1000 event, comprehensively beating the higher ranked Jonatan Christie and Chen Long in the previous rounds.
Advertisement
The Malaysian started convincingly against the Dane as he went on the offensive to dictate and clinch the first game 21-17.
But Axelsen stormed back in the next game, using all of his attacking variations to unsettle Lee and level at 21-13.
Lee upped his game in the decider and both men were battling in long rallies to gain the upper hand.
The turning point came at 19-19, which went against Lee.
He was adjudged for a violation while returning a shot when the shuttle had not crossed over to his side.
Losing that crucial point clearly affected him as Axelsen went on to seal the win for his second consecutive All-England final.
The Dane will face either Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen or countryman Anders Antonsen for the title.
While defeat was bitter, Lee can be proud of his showing, having made his second semi-final appearance this year.
He also made the last four of the Malaysia Masters before being ousted by Kento Momota.
