The coast is clear

Zii Jia in driver’s seat after top guns withdrawal

PETALING JAYA: Lee Zii Jia’s (pic) path to the final looks smooth with a spate of withdrawals and upsets.

Yesterday, Zii Jia marched into the singles quarter-finals after an easy 21-7, 21-11 win against German qualifier Kai Schaefer in a day when the top seed Viktor Axelsen and K. Srikanth pulled out from the competition at the Impact Arena in Bangkok.

Axelsen, who oozed class in his 21-19, 21-13 win against Heo Kwanghee of South Korea on the opening day, conceded a walkover to Kodai Naroaka of Japan due to injury in the second round.

The reason for eighth seed Srikanth’s exit is unknown but the Indian who defeated Brice Leverdez of France 18-21, 21-10, 21-16 in the first round on Wednesday, could be exhausted after winning every match in India’s superb win in the Thomas Cup Finals last week.

Earlier, second seed Kento Momota and fourth seed Chou Tien-chen were dumped in the opening round.

In fact, world No. 6 Zii Jia is the only seeded player left in the competition and he will take on Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren today for a place in the semi-finals.

The 28-year-old Shesar knocked out Brian Yang of Canada 18-21, 21-8, 21-7.

Zii Jia will be fairly confident of beating the Indonesian after coming out on top in their last encounter in the Asian meet in Manila where the Malaysian went on to win the title.

Liew Daren also made it a double joy for Malaysia when the 34-yearold defeated Koki Watanabe of Japan 16-21, 22-20, 21-11.

He will play the winner of the match between Zhao Junpeng of China and Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen.

National No. 1 Pearly Tan-m. Thinaah also kept the nation’s flag flying high when they checked into the women’s doubles quarter-finals after overcoming China’s Liu Xuanxuan-xia Yuting 21-17, 21-11.

They have a tough task today against Japan’s world No. 4 Yuki Fukushima-sayaka Hirota who ended the hopes of independent shuttlers Vivian Hoo-lim Chiew Sien with a classy 21-9, 21-8 win.

Pearly-thinaah will be out to gain a quick revenge over the Japanese who beat them in the Asian meet but will need to up their game to stand a chance of causing an upset.

“We are going to prepare well and focus on our own game as the Japanese are playing good in this tournament too,” said the 22-yearold Pearly.

In the mixed doubles, Goh Soon Huat-shevon Lai Jemie beat India’s Ishaan Bhatnagar-tanisha Crasto 21-19, 22-20 but the independent pair have an uphill battle against Japan’s Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists Yuta Watanabe-arisa Higashino next.