[UPDATED] Zii Jia triumphs at BAC, ends six-year wait

KUALA LUMPUR – National badminton ace Lee Zii Jia defeated Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 21-17, 23-21 to win the Asian Badminton Championships at Manila’s Muntilupa Sports Complex today.

Zii Jia’s win ends Malaysia’s six-year wait for the men’s singles title at the BAC, with the last win in 2016 by former world No. 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

The 24-year-old shuttler took only 45 minutes to triumph over Jonatan. Unfortunately, there was no double joy for Malaysia.

While national men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia triumphed, top national men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik continued to play the bridesmaid's role on the international stage.

The 2019 SEA Games champions duo Aaron-Wooi Yik fell 21-23, 10-21 to Indonesians  Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan in 52 minutes in the men’s doubles title showdown.

The result sees Aaron-Wooi Yik, who were paired up in 2017, emerging as runners-up for the seventh time, including at the All England 2019 and Thailand Open 2020. – The Vibes, May 1, 2022