Tokyo Olympics: Zii Jia sets up Chen Long showdown after Leverdez thrashing

Lee Zii Jia set up a mouth-watering last-16 clash against defending champion Chen Long after the Malaysian picked apart France's Brice Leverdez 21-17, 21-5 to comprehensively top Group M at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Lee’s performance was one of poise and controlled aggression, with his numerous overhead cross court smashes being the highlight of this straightforward 35-minute victory.

It was Leverdez who was quicker off the blocks, racing to a 7-4 lead in the opening game.

But Lee regained his composure, and when he did, there was no stopping him as the All-England champion fired home 10 consecutive points for a 19-11 lead, which he eventually saw over the line at 21-17.

If the first game looked close on paper, the second was anything but as Lee maintained a relentless tempo to work his opponent all over the court, and eventually into submission.

That set him up nicely for a huge showdown against Chen Long, who also comfortably won his final group game.

But there was a huge upset in the men’s singles after world number one and big favourite Kento Momota was sent packing after a 15-21, 19-21 defeat to South Korea’s Heo Kwang-hee.

Second seed Chou Tien-chen was also staring at the exit door against Canada’s Brian Yang but did just enough to conjure a 21-18, 16-21, 22-20 victory.

Jonatan Christie, Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen were the other seeded shuttlers who are through to the knockout rounds.

Men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will be in action early Thursday morning as they face Indonesian top seeds Kevin Sanajaya Sukamuljo-Marcus Fernaldi Gideon in the quarter-finals.