PETALING JAYA: Singles ace Lee Zii Jia believes his rival, world No. 1 Kento Momota (pic), will also be on a double mission when Malaysia face Japan to determine Group D winners at the Sudirman Cup in Vantaa, Finland today.The 23-year-old Zii Jia said besides eyeing victory, they have a personal score to settle when they clash for the first time since the All-England in March.
Then, Zii Jia defeated Momota in the quarter-finals to mark his breakthrough win in seven meetings before going on to win the title.
As for Momota, he had the chance to bounce back at the Tokyo Olympics but failed miserably when he was ousted by South Korea’s Heo Kwang-hee in the group stage.
“It’s going to be an important match for both of us,” said Zii Jia.
“He will be out to avenge his defeat against me while I’m seeking a repeat win. I believe this will be the main motivation for us.
“Whoever wins, it’s going to do our confidence a whole world of good.”
Zii Jia said he has no doubts Momota will recover with a much-improved display following a sloppy performance in his opener against England on Tuesday.
Momota was stretched to the limit by little-known Johnnie Torjussen, especially in the first game, before winning 22-20, 21-10 in 38 minutes.
Zii Jia, who played Torjussen on Monday, strolled past the the world No. 205, 21-4, 21-15 in just 28 minutes.
“I could see that Momota’s a bit lacking in confidence,” added Zii Jia.
“But his past credentials speak for itself. I believe he’s going to come back much stronger as this is a crucial match.
“If he could start from scratch after his ban (two years for gambling) and fought his way back to become the world No. 1, I don’t see why a man with such strong character can’t do it again.”
Malaysia are expected to field the same line-up that defeated England 5-0.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles), S. Kisona (women’s singles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See (mixed doubles) are almost certain to start after being rested in Malaysia’s 5-0 whipping of Egypt on Tuesday.
The last time Malaysia topped their group was in Dongguan in 2015.
Group C: Indonesia 3 Denmark 2 (Marcus Fernaldi-Kevin Sanjaya bt Mads Kolding-Frederik Sogaard 21-19, 21-15; Putri Kusuma lost to Mia Blichfeldt 11-21, 21-16, 14-21; Anthony Ginting lost to Anders Antonsen 9-21, 15-21; Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu bt Maiken Fruergaard-Sara Thygesen 21-17, 21-9; Praveen Jordan-Melati Daeva bt Mathias Thyrri-Amalie Magelund 21-8, 21-17); Russia bt Canada 5-0 (Rodion Alimov-Alina Davletova bt Nyl Yakura-Crystal Lai 21-14, 21-11;
Vladimir Malkov bt B.R. Sankeerth 21-19, 15-21, 21-11; Evegeniya Kosetskaya bt Rachel Chan 21-18, 21-15; Vladimir Malkov-Ivan Sozonov bt Nyl Yakura-Brian Yang 21-14, 21-15; Alina Davletova-Ekaterina Malkova bt Catherine Choi-Crystal Lai 21-11, 21-16).
Group D: Malaysia bt Egypt (Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei bt Ahmed Salah-Nour Ahmed 21-6, 21-7; Ng Tze Yong bt Mohamed Mostafa 21-8, 21-2;
Eoon Qi Xuan bt Doha Hany 21-5, 21-7; Man Wei Chong bt Tee Kai Wun bt Mohamed Mostafa-Ahmed Salah 21-7, 21-6; Teoh Mei Xing-Yap Ling bt Nour Ahmed-Doha Hany 21-4, 21-9); Japan bt England 5-0 (Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino bt Marcus Ellis-Lauren Smith 21-16, 21-12; Kento Momota bt Johnnie Torjussen 22-20, 21-10; Akira Koga-Taichi Saito bt Ben Lane-Sean Vendy 21-17, 19-21, 21-12; Akane Yamaguchi bt Abaigail Holden 21-16, 21-12; Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida bt Chloe Birch-Lauren Smith 21-16, 21-12).
