It’s service over to Zii Jia now

Lee Zii Jia celebrates after winning Denmark's Victor Axelsen during the men's final match of the All England Open Badminton Championships. - AP

THE senior Lee has left the scene. And the junior fellow has taken centrestage.A friend said this, almost in jest, after 22-year-old Lee Zii Jia pulled off a spectacular show to dethrone defending champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 30-29,20-22,21-9 in the All-England men’s singles final at the Arena Birmingham on Sunday to end a four-year title wait for Malaysia.

The last time a Malaysian won the All-England was in 2017 when the more famous Lee – Chong Wei – did for his fourth title.