[UPDATED] Indonesia Masters: first round a walk in the park for Zii Jia

KUALA LUMPUR – National badminton star Lee Zii Jia defeated Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen in the men’s singles opening round of the Indonesia Masters 2022 today.

Zii Jia overpowered world number 22 Wangcharoen in straight sets, 21-16, 21-12 in under 38 minutes at Istora Senayan, Jakarta.

The world number 5 will next face the Netherlands’ Mark Caljouw in Round 2 of the men’s singles tomorrow to fight for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Last month, Zee Jia bagged the Thailand Open 2022 title in Bangkok after facing China’s Li Shi Feng, which earned him USD27,000 (RM119,000).

Daren Liew, in the meantime, did not have the same fate as his comrade when he lost to China’s Lu Guang Zu, 21-16, 23-21.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah also advanced to Round 2 in the super 500 event after  a straightforward 21-13, 21-18 win over French pair Margot Lambert-Anne Tran.

The pair will go up against Korea’s Baek Ha Na-Lee Yu Lim in Round 2 of the women’s doubles tomorrow to determine their spot in the quarter-finals. – The Vibes, June 8, 2022