Sports & Fitness

M’sia Masters: breathless Zii Jia exits second round

National shuttler falls to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi 21-19, 16-21, 21-15

Updated 11 months ago · Published on 25 May 2023 9:35PM

M’sia Masters: breathless Zii Jia exits second round — Lee Zii Jia (pic) was clearly out of breath and suffering an injury in his right leg, limping his way to see out the final set, but Chun-Yi sealed the win in an hour and 27 minutes. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, May 25, 2023

by Saktesh Subramaniam

KUALA LUMPUR – It was an early end for men’s singles ace shuttler Lee Zii Jia at the 2023 Malaysia Masters as he exited the second round to Chinese Taipei player Lin Chun-Yi, 21-19, 16-21, 21-15.

At the Axiata Arena, all eyes were on Zii Jia as he narrowly won the first set, but the second set was all Chun-Yi’s as the world number 24 shuttler maintained the lead since the first set.

The third set was agonising for Zii Jia’s fans to witness.

The world number 10 was clearly out of breath and suffering an injury in his right leg, limping his way to see out the final set, but Chun-Yi sealed the win in an hour and 27 minutes.

After the match, Zii Jia could not muster up the strength needed to talk to the media, so his sister and manager Lee Zii Yii took the world number 10 shuttler’s place in front of the camera.

After the match, Lee Zii Jia (pic) could not muster up the strength needed to talk to the media, so sister and manager Lee Zii Yii took the world number 10 shuttler’s place in front of the camera. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, May 25, 2023

“I am sorry that Zii Jia can not be here to talk because he is feeling dizzy and cannot go through with the interviews, so that is why I am here to cover for him.

“He has been feeling unwell the past few days, so we have been giving him paracetamol and making sure he gets sufficient rest.

“He is tired…the travelling during the Sudirman Cup has taken a toll on him.

“I know that every player who competed last week went through the same ordeal, but we were just hoping that Zii Jia would be ready for the Masters, but too bad,” she said.

Meanwhile, elated men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (pic) have booked their spot in the quarterfinals after they won against Chinese Taipei’s Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, May 25, 2023

Zii Jia needed medical attention during the third set, but Zii Yii said she is still unsure why her brother called for the medical staff.

However, she said their focus will now shift to the upcoming Singapore Open from June 6 to 11.

Zii Yii also said that new coaching director Wong Tat Meng’s contract with Team LZJ will last till the end of 2024, after the Paris Olympics.

Yesterday, Zii Jia brushed off allegations that the appointment of his new coach involved a breach of contract following Hong Kong’s shuttler Angus Ng’s post on social media expressing his dissatisfaction.

Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi came from a set down to close out the game in an hour and 18 minutes and will now face South Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae in the final eight tomorrow. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, May 25, 2023

Meanwhile, elated men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi booked their spot in the quarterfinals after they won against Chinese Taipei’s Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han.

The world number eight Malaysian duo came from a set down to close out the game in an hour and 18 minutes and will now face South Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae in the final eight tomorrow. – The Vibes, May 25, 2023