Zii Jia upsets Naraoka at 2024 Yonex All England C’ships
Lee Zii Jia upset Kodai Naraoka, 21-12, 21-19, in the 2024 Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham on Wednesday.
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ZII JIA POSTS SECOND WIN OVER NARAOKA
Zii Jia registered only his second victory over Japan’s world No.6 Naraoka in five matches.
The last time the Malaysian 2021 champion defeated the Japanese was in this same tournament last year.
The win enables Zii Jia to advance to the next round. He will next face former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore,
“I focused on my attacking game play today, and it worked for me,” Zii Jia said.
MALAYSIAN WOMEN’S DOUBLES PAIR ALSO ADVANCE
Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah also joined Zii Jia in the next round after pulling off a 21-10, 21-10 win over compatriots Vivian Hoo and Lim Chiew Sien.
Pearly and Thinaah needed just 26 minutes to finish off their fellow Malaysian shuttlers.
They are possibly lined up to face world No.1 duo Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan of China. The Chinese pair are scheduled to play Hu Ya Ching and Lin Wan Ching of Chinese Taipei on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Goh Soot Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie defeated Chang Ko Chi and Lee Chih Chen, 21-17, 26-24, in mixed doubles action.
