Sorry mate: Lee Zia Jia wins after Viktor Axelsen concedes walkover due to injury in Sudirman Cup.
PETALING JAYA: Lee Zii Jia was left shocked after Viktor Axelsen limped out just after a few points in a much-anticipated clash between the men's singles stars from Malaysia and Denmark in the Sudirman Cup.
The world No. 1 Axelsen was forced to concede a walkover because of a hamstring injury during the quarter-final tie in Suzhou, China, today (May 19).
He retired at 4-4, just five minutes into the opening game.
With that, Zii Jia gave Malaysia a 2-0 lead, as Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei had earlier won the opening game 15-21, 21-14, 21-7 against Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje in the mixed doubles.
Said Zii Jia: "I'm still quite shocked as this is my first experience to be in a situation like this. Hopefully, Axelsen will recover from his injury.
"I did not suspect anything at first as everything seemed fine until he walked out. I asked him how he was, he said it was a pull...hamstring. It's unfortunate.
Goh Jin Wei went down 14-21, 21-15, 19-21 to Mia Blichfeldt which allowed Denmark narrow the gap.
However, reigning world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik stayed solid to beat Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-17, 21-16 to pull off a 3-1 win for Malaysia and assure a place in the semi-finals of the world mixed team event.
Malaysia face four-time Sudirman Cup champions South Korea next.
FIXTURES
10am: Malaysia vs South Korea
5pm: China vs Japan
