A BRIDGE TOO FAR

Zii Jia’s gallant run comes to an end at the hands of Momota

ALAS, Kento Momota just proved to be one big hurdle for Lee Zii Jia. The World No 16 gave a good account of himself but didn’t have enough answers to the Japanese World No 1 as the Malaysian lost 21-15, 21-19 in the quarter-finals of the Korean Open in Incheon yesterday.

Zii Jia, who came in high on confidence after scoring a firstever win over Denmark’s 2017 world champion Viktor Axelsen on Thursday, was hoping to score his first win over Momota in four meetings.

The reigning world champion was however sharper from the start and took the first game.

Zii Jia didn’t throw in the towel and even led 14-10 in the second game, but he just couldn’t press his advantage as the Japanese sealed the win in 50 minutes.

Momota, who won the China Open last week, plays unseeded P. Kashyap of India in the last four today.

And Zii Jia certainly wasn’t patting himself on the back following his latest defeat.

“I am not happy with my performance,” said Zii Jia.

“Some may think that I played well, but I’m still not satisfied as my level is still quite a way off from Momota.

“I definitely have to train harder to close the gap on him. That is my target, which isn’t easy, but I will strive to make that happen.”

Despite the loss, Zii Jia can still draw a little consolation in the fact that he gains valuable points for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualification.

The national No 1 is currently seventh in the qualifying race, and way ahead of Liew Daren, who is No 27.

A country can only send two players if both are ranked in the top 16.

In the men’s doubles, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were also knocked out in the last eight.

The World No 29 fought hard but lost out on the crucial points against South Korea’s Choi Solgyu-Seo Seung Jae in an 21-18, 1821, 21-18 defeat.

The Koreans, who are ranked No 14 in the world, take on Japan’s World No 4 Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda for a place in the final.