Sports & Fitness

Walk in the park for Zii Jia

World number eight crushes his opponent in 25 minutes.

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 25 Jul 2021 6:07PM

Walk in the park for Zii Jia
Zii Jia hits a shot to Ukraine's Artem Pochtarov during their group stage match at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza. - AFP pix July 25, 2021.

Tokyo – National men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia got his maiden Olympic outing off to a cracking start with an emphatic 21-5, 21-11 win over Ukraine’s Artem Pochtarov in his opening Group M tie at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza today.

The 23-year-old Zii Jia, who is ranked eighth in the world, was in sizzling form as he turned on the style with his deft flicks and deadly smashes to brush aside his opponent in just 25 minutes.

Zii Jia was clearly a class above in the first game, trouncing the world number 98 Ukrainian 21-5 in just nine minutes before wrapping up the second game with a 21-11 win.   

The Kedah-born Zii Jia, who won the All-England title in March and is the country’s medal hopeful at the Tokyo Olympics, will next face Frenchman Brice Leverdez in his second Group M match. – Bernama July 25, 2021

Spotlight

Business

Ringgit gains as oil prices plunge on hopes of Iran conflict de-escalation

Events

UKM to establish academic research platform named after Dr Wan Azizah

Malaysia

Deepavali preparations destroyed as flash floods inundate Sungai Buloh homes

Malaysia

Melaka polls: Calm campaign puts focus on what parties can offer voters

Malaysia

Anwar challenges Hadi over ‘Dajjal’ label

Malaysia

Shuhaily remains AKPS chief pending official transfer order, says lawyer

Malaysia

Najib's former wife Tengku Puteri Zainah passes away

Malaysia

Matrade exposes scam involving fake procurement orders, advance payment demands

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

“Don’t panic,” Govt assures stable essential goods supply amid geopolitical tensions, monsoon threat