KUALA LUMPUR — Professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia made a surprise opening round exit at the Japan Open 2024, falling to Alex Lanier of France in Yokohama today.
Fresh from securing bronze at the Paris Olympic Games, sixth-seeded Zii Jia was unable to replicate his recent success as he was sent packing by the world No 29 shuttler 18-21, 13-21 in 41 minutes during the Super 750 tournament at the Yokohama Arena.
However, two national men’s doubles pairs, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri lived up to expectations to march into the second round.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, eighth seeds, got past home pair Kazuki Shibata-Naoki Yamada with a convincing 21-13, 21-13 win to book a second round slot against Liu Huang Keng-Yang Po Han.
The unseeded Taiwanese pair had earlier prevented an all-Malaysian affair tomorrow after eliminating Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong 21-13, 21-17.
Hon Jian-Haikal on the other hand came from behind to see off Bjaerne Geiss-Jan Colin Voelker of Germany 12-21, 21-11, 21-16 in 55 minutes.
A daunting task awaits the unseeded Malaysian duo as they will take on second seeds Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto after the Indonesians emerged victorious 22-20, 13-21, 21-14 against China’s Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei han.
In the women’s singles, professional shuttler Goh Jin Wei failed to advance to the next round after losing 18-21, 10-21 to the third seed from China, Wang Zhi Yi. — Bernama
