Zii Jia seeking confidence boost at NZ Open ahead of SEA Games

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia (pic)is all fired up for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

And the 19-year-old is using the ongoing New Zealand Open to fine-tune his game as well as to gain a confidence boost for the Aug 19-30 event.

Zii Jia got off to a flying start in Auckland yesterday by beating Australia’s Cham Chen 21-7, 21-7 in the men’s singles first round.

The lanky Zii Jia, who made the semi-finals of the fourth-tier Taiwan Open and seventh-tier Malaysian International Series last month, next takes on sixth seed and world No. 31 Hsu Jen-hao of Taiwan.

“My run-up to the Games is coming along nicely. I want to do well in this tournament to gain self-confidence for the task ahead,” said Zii Jia, the world No. 67.

Polish Open winner Tan Jia Wei also made the second round after beating Australian Low Pit Seng 21-15, 21-13.

Joining the two Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) shuttlers in the second round are independent shuttlers Chong Wei Feng, Liew Daren, Goh Giap Chin and Soh Wooi Yik.

Wei Feng, the ninth seed, blew past Asian Junior Championships runner-up Bai Yupeng of China 21-11, 21-10 to set up a clash with Australia’s Jacob Schueler.

Meanwhile, SEA Games-bound Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzudin Rumsani (men’s doubles), Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei (women’s doubles) and Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See (mixed doubles) will go into firstround action today.

RESULTS *Malaysians only First round Men’s singles:

Chong Wei Feng bt Bai Yupeng (Chn) 21-11, 21-10; Soh Wooi Yik bt Abhinav Manota (Nzl) 21-23, 21-17, 24-22; Goh Giap Chin bt Sachin Rawat (Ind) 21-12, 21-8; Tan Jia Wei bt Low Pit Seng (Aus) 21-15, 21-13; Liew Daren bt Dylan Soedjasa (Nzl) 21-16, 21-18; Lee Zii Jia bt Chan Chen (Aus) 21-7, 21-7.