Lee Zii Jia chalked up his second consecutive victory at the BWF World Tour Finals after beating Toma Junior Popov on Thursday, while women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah served the upset of the day.
Lee had come into this match after a straight-game victory over Thailand’s Kunvalut Vitidsarn on Wednesday, and was expected to do the same against his French opponent.
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While the Malaysian had no issues powering to a rather comfortable 21-13 first-game victory, the second game was a more competitive affair as Popov fought tooth and nail to try and force the issue.
But Lee kept his cool and kept his opponent at bay for a 21-19 win in the second game.
RESULTS: #WorldTourFinals2021
— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) December 2, 2021
Group B#MAS ?? Lee Zii Jia (2) def. #FRA?? Toma Junior Popov 21-13 21-19
? https://t.co/gRbesloUBD#DemiMalaysia#BadmintonMalaysia pic.twitter.com/8ZZmv6Lqkk
Tan-Thinaah were the biggest winners of the day after they shocked top seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajonglai in straight games 23-21, 21-14 to revive their semi-final hopes.
The national women’s doubles had tamely lost their opening match in straight games but put on a contrasting performance for the win.
Their job is far from over, as the Swiss Open champions now have to battle against Tokyo Olympic gold medalists Greysia Polli-Apriyani Rahayu to pip them to the last four.
Independent mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying also seemed to be discovering some sort of form after they racked up a well-deserved 21-17, 19-21, 21-16 victory over Danish third seeds Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje.
Chan-Goh had beaten former national team-mates Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing on Wednesday but faced a tougher challenge in their 84-minute victory.
Taking the first game was crucial to the pair’s hopes of winning this match, as they won nine of the last 10 points in the opener for the 21-17 win.
Christiansen-Boje battled back to level, but the Malaysians used their experience to carve out victory.
RESULTS: #WorldTourFinals2021
— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) December 2, 2021
Group A#MAS ?? Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying def. #DEN?? Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Bøje(3) 21-17 19-21 21-16
? @badmintonphoto #DemiMalaysia#BadmintonMalaysia pic.twitter.com/qHvNr5mjyg
Chan-Goh next play top seeds Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino to determine the Group A champions on Friday.
Watanabe-Higashino beat Kian Meng-Lai comfortably 21-16, 21-10, so the contest against Chan-Goh determines top spot in Group A.
Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also checked into the last four after battling for close to an hour to overcome Indonesia's Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Erich Yotje Yacob Rambitan 12-21, 21-11, 21-18.
Group B match where ?? Ong/Teo contend against ?? Kusumawardana/Rambitan for a semifinals position.#BWFWorldTour #BaliFinals2021 pic.twitter.com/n3XDj0vRki
— BWF (@bwfmedia) December 2, 2021
