KUALA LUMPUR: Independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia pulled off a stunning 21-15, 19-21, 21-11 win over Denmark’s world No. 4 Anders Antonsen to storm into the semi-finals of the Malaysian Masters on Friday (May 24).
World No. 10 Zii Jia was full of confidence after capturing the Thailand Open in Bangkok last week and fought brilliantly to upstage Antonsen in an exhausting 83-minute last-eight match at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
It was the 26-year-old’s first victory over the Dane in a full match since coming out on top over the latter in the 2020 edition of the tournament, where he also made it into the semi-finals.
Zii Jia has an opportunity to reach back-to-back finals when he takes on Hong Kong’s world No. 24 Angus Ng Ka Long in the last four on Saturday (May 25).
Meanwhile, it was another great day for Malaysia when the mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei set up an all-Malaysia semi-final with Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
Young, rising men’s doubles pair Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi also reached the last four after toppling Denmark’s world No. 18 Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard 21-18, 14-21, 21-18.
Roy King-Arif will next face either teammates Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani or another Denmark pair, Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
In the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are also through to the semi-final after defeating Australia’s Setyana Mapasa-Angela Yu 21-16, 21-8.
Pearly-Thinaah will take on South Korea’s Lee Yu-lim-Shin Seung-chan next for a place in the final.
