Zii Jia shown the door
LEE Zii Jia’s impressive run in the Malaysia International Series came to an end when he was sent packing in the men’s singles semi-finals yesterday.
The 19-year-old, who will play in next month’s Kuala Lumpur Sea Games, lost 2117, 21-19 to compatriot Cheam June Wei.
June Wei, who is also hoping to make a mark in the men’s singles squad, will take on Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew for the title today.
“I got lucky, maybe Zii Jia lost focus and was a little too excited to reach the final. Either way I’m happy because I have been struggling with injuries last year.
“Kean Yew is also from Penang and we used to train together when we were young. I need to be confident tomorrow,” said June Wei yesterday.
Kean Yew upset 10th seed Tan Jia Wei 21-10, 18-21, 21-14 in the other semi-final.
In the women’s singles, reigning national Under-21 champion S. Kisona saw off M. Thinaah 15-21, 21-17, 21-12 in the semi-finals.
Kisona, who already has an international title to her belt (Victor International Series), will take on top seed Lee Ying Ying in the final.
Ying Ying clawed back from an opening game blemish to notch a 12-21, 21-14, 21-9 win over Thailand’s Thamolwan Poopradubsil in the other semi-final match.
Cheam June Wei bt Lee Zii Jia 21-17, 21-19, Loh Kean Yew (Sin) bt Tan Jia Wei 21-10, 18-21, 21-14; Lee Jian Yi-Lim Zhen Ting bt Mohd Razif Abdul Latif-Bagus Harya (Ina) 21-9, 2117, Chen Tang Jie-Soh Wooi Yik bt Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Jagdish Singh 21-14, 21-19;
Lee Ying Ying bt Thamolwan Poopradubsil (Tha) 12-21, 2114, 21-9, S.Kisona bt M.Thinaah 15-21, 21-17, 21-12; Soong Fie Cho-Tee Jing Yi bt Ririn Amelia (Ina)-Anna Cheong (Mas) 21-17, 19-21, 21-12, Kittipak DubthukNatcha Saengchote (Tha) bt Pattaranan Chamnaktan-Thanyasuda Wongya (Tha) 21-15, 21-9;
K.Nandagopal-Mahima Aggarwal (Ind) bt Lim Zhen Ting-Chin Kah Mun 21-13, 21-17, Yantoni Edy SaputraMarsheilla Gischa Islami (Ina) bt Andika Ramadiansyah-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso (Ina) 21-17, 22-20.
*Malaysia unless stated