PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia (pic) has admitted that it is impossible to run away from being compared to Malaysian men’s singles legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
World No. 10 Zii Jia, after his 21-17, 21-19 win over Brian Yang of Canada in the first round of the Indian Open in New Delhi yesterday, further added that his relationship with Chong Wei had been weird.
It was a better start from Zii Jia at the K.D. Jadhav Indoor Stadium to make up for his disappointment at the Malaysian Open where he lost in the first round to Lu Guangzu of China.
After the win, Zii Jia opened up on the pressure of being the leading singles player of the badminton-crazy nation and the high expectations that come with being Chong Wei’s successor.
“As the Malaysian No. 1, I cannot run away from being compared with Chong Wei and this is something that I have to face my entire career,” Zii Jia told the Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday.
“I am getting more mature in handling this situation year by year although I am still trying to look for the best solution in handling this kind of problem.
“To be honest, since I came out (of BAM) as a professional player, the position is kind of weird between me and him (Chong Wei).
“As you know, there is a lot of news but I have a good coach and the team to help me and I just have to believe in what I’m doing.”
Zii Jia had also received tough resistance from Yang in the second game where he saved three match points at 16-20 before the Malaysian sealed victory with a 21-19 win.
“I just told myself to stay focused on the court and Brian played a very good game today. When it comes to the last few points, it depends on who dares to do something special,” added Zii Jia.
“First win of the season and it’s a good start for me because I’ve been struggling to find a more stable performance for the last few years,” said Zii Jia, who will meet Indonesian Jonatan Christie, who thrashed Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong 21-13, 21-7, in the second round today.
Men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik lived dangerously before recovering to upstage Japanese bogeymen Akira Koga-Taichi Saito 21-9, 19-21, 21-14 to move into the second round of the Indian Open yesterday.
The world No. 4 pair will play another Japanese pair Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura for a place in the quarter-finals today.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani did not face any problems against Adam Dong-Nyl Yakura of Canada as they secured an easy 21-11, 21-5 win in 30 minutes.
However, they will face a tough second-round clash against China’s world No. 8 Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi of China today.
In the mixed doubles, world No. 9 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei also broke their jinx against Rinov Rivaldi-Pita Haningtyas of Indonesia to secure their first win in four meetings.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei won 14-21, 21-11, 21-11 to book a second-round clash against world No. 7 Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taera-ttanachai of Thailand today.
2024-01-17 23:10:41
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