Another early exit for Zii Jia

Malaysia's Zii Jia Lee competes against China's Yu Qi Shi (not pictured) during the men single badminton final match of the Denmark open tournament at Jyske Bank Arena in Odense, on October 23, 2022. (Photo by Claus Fisker / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT

PETALING JAYA: Men's singles world No. 2 Lee Zii Jia was toppled in the second round of the India Open by Li Shifeng of China in New Delhi on Thursday (Jan 19).

Zii Jia was beaten 21-11, 14-21, 21-18 by Shifeng in 64 minutes, the second straight time the Malaysian shuttler failed to clear the early rounds.

Zii Jia fell to Japan's Kodai Naraoka in the first round of the Malaysian Open earlier this month.

However, independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi advanced to the men’s doubles quarter-finals and will meet compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik on Friday (Jan 20).

Yew Sin-Ee Yi defeated Supak Jomkoh-Kittinupong Kedren of Thailand 21-16, 13-21, 21-19 while world champions Aaron-Wooi Yik overcame Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan 15-21, 21-19, 21-19 in the second round.

Women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah also made the last eight after beating Taiwan’s Lee Chia-hsin-Teng Chun-hsun 21-14, 16-21, 21-6 in the second round.

Mixed doubles Chen Tangjie-Toh Ee Wei ended their campaign in the second round after losing 21-23, 12-21 to China’s Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping.