Great run for Zii Jia despite not winning back-to-back BWF titles

PETALING JAYA: National shuttler Lee Zii Jia will head into 2019 with renewed optimism after ending the season on a high.

The 20-year-old fell short in his bid to secure back-to-back titles after he was beaten 16-21, 11-21 in the Korean Masters by top seed and world No. 6 Son Wan-ho in Gwangju yesterday.

But Zii Jia prefers to look on the bright side especially reaching consecutive finals in his last two outings of the year. Earlier, in October, he captured the men’s singles title at the Taiwan Open by beating Japan’s Riichi Takeshita.

“It was not easy to play against Wan-ho as he’s the better player of the day.

“There’s always something to learn and gain from playing against a top opponent like him,” said Zii Jia.

“It’s still a good ending as far as I’m concerned. The most important thing is to bring this momentum into next season.

“Right now all I want to do is to enjoy a short break and then return fresh to prepare for the new season.”

Zii Jia is slowly but surely showing signs as Lee Chong Wei’s potential successor.

Zii Jia also impressed in his second singles role during the Asian Team Championships in Kedah in February and then the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok in May.

He won six out of eight matches he featured in the two tournaments, beating the likes of Denmark’s Hans Kristian Vittinghus and Hong Kong Vincent Wong Wing Ki.

“I still have a long way to go before I become a top player. But I’m encouraged with the progress I have made after two years in the senior team.”

FINAL RESULTS

Men’s singles: Son Wan-ho (Kor) bt Lee Zii Jia (Mas) 21-16, 21-11.

Men’s doubles: Choi Sol-gyu-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) bt Po Li-wei-Wang Chi-lin (Tpe) 21-12, 17-21, 21-18.

Women’s singles: Li Xuerui (Chn) bt Han Yue (Chn) 21-10, 21-18.

Women’s doubles: Chang Ye-na-Jung Kyung-eun (Kor) bt Lee So-hee-Shin Sheung-chan (Kor) 21-14, 21-17.

Mixed doubles: Ko Sung-hyun-Eom Hye-won (Kor) bt Choi Sol-gyu-Shin Sheung-chan (Kor) 21-15, 15-21, 21-18.