Pro Zii Jia shows he still has fire in belly as he plods his way to quarters

Slogging it out: Lee Zii Jia will play Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open today. — AP

PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia is feeling the strain of competing in back-to-back tournaments as he made his way to the Australian Open quarter-finals.

World No. 8 Zii Jia took 41 minutes to beat compatriot Soong Joo Ven 21-18, 21-14 in the second round yesterday.