Lee Zii Jia will see no further action at his home tournament after falling 12-21, 17-21 to India’s world No.32 Ayush Shetty in the opening round of men’s singles badminton action at the Malaysian Open 2026 on Tuesday (6 January).
The Paris 2024 bronze medallist struggled for rhythm in his first return to competition following a three-month-long hiatus due to injuries, with the 20-year-old Shetty needing just 39 minutes to secure the win over Lee.
The Malaysian shuttler wasn’t the only name of note to bow out on day one at the Stadium Axiata Arena.
Despite his best efforts to level the score in the second game, Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew was ultimately dispatched by last year’s runner-up, Anders Antonsen of Denmark, 13-21, 14-21, 21-18.
It took the number three seed 67 minutes to overcome Loh and book his ticket to the next round of the BWF World Tour’s first calendar competition for 2026.
Elsewhere, reigning Olympic women’s singles champion An Se Young came back from a game down to defeat Canada’s Michelle Li 19-21, 21-16, 21-18.
The number one seed is now set to face Rio 2016 Olympic medallist Norsemi of Japan in the round of 16.
