NEW DELHI — Malaysian men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia was unable to build early-season momentum at the 2026 India Open, bowing out in the first round after a closely contested three-game defeat to Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke.
Playing at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Lee — who only recently returned to competitive action following injury setbacks — dropped the opening game 13–21 as he struggled to find rhythm early on.
Watch Lee Zii Jia vs. Rasmus Gemke at 2026 India Open first round:
However, the Olympic bronze medallist responded strongly in the second game, raising his attacking intensity and court coverage to secure a 21–18 win and force the match into a deciding third game.
Gemke Holds His Nerve in Decider
The deciding game saw both players trading points in a tense, physical exchange. Despite Lee’s improved movement and shot selection, world No.26 Gemke remained composed in the closing stages, edging the contest 21–18 to seal victory after 62 minutes.
The result extended Gemke’s dominance in their head-to-head record, with Lee still searching for his first win against the Dane after five meetings.
Positive Signs in Recovery Process
Despite the early exit, Lee acknowledged clear progress in his performance compared to last week’s Malaysia Open, where he also exited in the opening round.
“From what I showed at the Malaysia Open and today’s match, I can feel there has been improvement,” Lee told the Badminton World Federation (BWF). “The main challenge now is rebuilding fitness and match sharpness after a long break.”
Currently ranked world No.144, Lee admitted the defeat was frustrating, particularly as he looks to regain confidence through victories, but accepted the outcome as part of the recovery process.
“I wanted to win badly, especially after taking the match to a third game, but it wasn’t enough today. I have to accept that and keep moving forward,” he said.
Focus Shifts to Indonesia Masters
The 28-year-old will now shift his attention to the Indonesia Masters next week, aiming to gain more competitive minutes, build momentum, and gradually improve his world ranking.
Malaysian Doubles Results at India Open
In men’s doubles badminton action, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun progressed to the second round after a convincing 21–16, 21–15 victory over fellow Malaysians Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong.
The world No.6 pair maintained a perfect head-to-head record against Azriyn–Wee Kiong, registering their third win in as many meetings.
Wei Chong–Kai Wun will next face France’s Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov, who eliminated Malaysia’s Choong Hon Jian and Haikal Nazri in straight games.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian men’s doubles pair, Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, exited the tournament early after a 15–21, 18–21 loss to India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun.
As the India Open continues, Malaysian players will look to take valuable lessons forward as the badminton season gathers pace.
