Eyes on shuttle: Lee Zii Jia will play Taiwan's Lee Chia-hao in the Australian Open semi-finals. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia has booked his spot in the semi-finals of the Australian Open after winning against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto on Friday (June 14).
The world No. 8 Zii Jia took an hour and seven minutes to oust world No. 11 Nishimoto 16-21, 21-12, 21-12 at the Quaycentre in Sydney Olympic Park.
It is Zii Jia's ninth win out of their 12 meetings.
He plays Taiwan's Lee Chia-hao and should make it to the final.
Earlier, mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing sent compatriots Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee home as they won 21-15, 23-21 to enter semi-finals.
Men’s doubles pair Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri also entered the semis after defeating Australia’s Rizky Hidayat-Frengky Wijaya 21-16, 18-21, 21-12.
The journey in Sydney however ended for another pair when Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King lost 14-21, 17-21 to Taiwan’s Chen Zhi-ray-Lin Yu-chieh.
It was the same fate for youngsters Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai as they lost to top seeds He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu of China 14-21, 12-21.
