Zii Jia’s win shows he’s the real deal
LEE Zii Jia, ranked No. 10 in the world, created an upset by beating reigning All England champion Dane Viktor Axelsen 30-29, 20-22 and 21-9 in the final.
Both players slugged it out and luckily Axelsen was a spent force in the end.
Malaysians were glued to their TV during the final. This win was not a miracle but a real show of character, with Zii Jia, 22, showing great temperament to win.
The first set was touch and go with both players going the extra point until it reached 30-29 in Zii Jia’s favour. He showed patience, grit, skill and strategy to beat Axelsen at the net.
The second set was another close encounter. Zii Jia was confident of winning, but Axelsen did not surrender his title easily. Axelsen won 22-20.
Malaysians kept their fingers crossed with coaching director Wong Choong Hann giving inspiration.
With this win, Zii Jia has proven that he is the real deal after much criticism was levelled at him when his form dipped six months ago.
This is a perfect birthday present for Zii Jia, who will turn 23 on March 29.
The next challenge will be the Tokyo Olympics, with Kento Momota trying to avenge his defeat to Zii Jia to prove to his countrymen that he is the best player in the world.
Zii Jia must prove that his win was no fluke but due to his perseverance and self-belief.
This, hopefully, will herald the start of a new era of badminton excellence for Malaysia.
We hope he can emulate or surpass Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who won the All England four times.
We also hope this triumph will spark other sports personalities and athletes to win international competitions.