PETALING JAYA: From losing in the first round to emerging as the runner-up in the Irish Open, professional shuttler Tan Jia Jie has come a long way in his badminton career.
On Sunday, Jia Jie fell short when he lost 20-22, 21-14, 19-21 to Ireland's Nhat Nguyen in the men's singles final in Dublin.
The 22-year-old, who is supported by his sponsors Maxx and Ampang Jaya Badminton Club (AJBC), showed great resilience by pushing his opponent to the limit in every game before losing narrowly.
"It’s disappointing not to have won the Irish Open, but I am incredibly grateful for how far I’ve come,” said Jia Jie.
"From losing in the first round here three years ago to making it to the final, it’s been a journey of growth and learning. I wouldn’t be here without the support of my coach, sponsors, and all the fans," added Jia Jie, who trains under coach Ho Khek Mong.
Jia Jie lost to Bulgarian Ivan Rusev in the opener of the Irish Open and last year, he faced early exits in most of his tournaments but the turning point came at the Austria Open in May, where he reached the quarter-finals.
Thanks to his outing in Ireland, the world No. 108 is expected to break into top 100.
His next big tournament will be the Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil in January.
