Lee Zii Jia, Anders Antonsen To Clash In Malaysia Masters Quarters

0
4058
Lee Zii Jia to face off against Anders Antonsen in the 2024 Malaysia Masters quarterfinals. (Photo: BWF)
Lee Zii Jia to face off against Anders Antonsen in the 2024 Malaysia Masters quarterfinals. (Photo: BWF)

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s World No. 10 Lee Zii Jia, must momentarily set aside his friendship with World No. 4 Denmark badminton ace, Anders Antonsen, as they face off in the quarterfinals of the Masters Malaysia on Thursday.

Lee expects a tough match against Antonsen, who recently emerged as the champion of the Malaysia Open in January.

Highlights of Lee Zii Jia vs. Kiran George in the second round of the 2024 Malaysia Masters:

“We are professional players, and although we compete on the court, we remain friends afterward. I don’t think it will affect the match tomorrow.”

“I can say that tomorrow’s match will be tough, especially considering Antonsen’s recent victory in the Malaysia Open. It’s not easy to compete against a player like Antonsen, so I need to perform at my best.”

“I believe patience is the key to victory tomorrow,” said Lee.

Lee, who clinched the Thailand Open title last Sunday, secured his spot in the quarterfinals after defeating India’s Kiran George 21-13, 21-18 in the second round at the Axiata Arena.

Antonsen, on the other hand, was placed as the second seed and advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating his compatriot, Magnus Johannesen, 21-12, 21-10.

According to Lee Zii Jia, he is delighted to reach his first quarterfinals on home soil since his last appearance in the semifinals of the Masters Malaysia in 2020.

In last year’s Masters Malaysia competition, Lee was eliminated in the second round.

“In the last four years, this is the first time I’ve made it to the quarterfinals. So, I think this is a positive achievement for me,” added Lee.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s men’s doubles team, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, also advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating their teammates, Choong Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal Nazri, 21-15, 21-19.

They will face the third-seeded Chinese pair, He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu, in the quarterfinals.

Another Malaysian men’s doubles team, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, caused an upset by defeating the fourth-seeded Taiwanese pair, Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Masters Malaysia today.

Arif-Roy King, ranked 47th in the world, rallied from a set down to secure a 13-21, 21-15, 21-18 victory over their opponents.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals tomorrow are two more Malaysian men’s doubles pairs, Nur Izzuddin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei, who defeated Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-17, 21-12, and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who beat Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi 21-13, 13-21, 21-10.

Izzuddin-Goh will meet the second-seeded pair from Denmark, Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rassmussen, while Chia-Soh, seeded first, will take on Jin Yong-Na Sung Seung from South Korea.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here