PETALING JAYA: Can Thailand once again inspire Lee Zii Jia (pic) as he continues his climb back towards the world elite?
Zii Jia has fond memories of Bangkok after winning the Thailand Open titles in 2022 and 2024.
However, the independent shuttler will first need to get past Israel’s Daniil Dubovenko in the opening round, in what will be their first meeting.
Dubovenko is currently ranked world No. 60.
Should he advance, Zii Jia is expected to face fourth seed Chou Tien-chen in the second round.
The Paris Olympic bronze medallist got his campaign off to a positive start yesterday after successfully coming through the qualifying rounds at Nimibutr Stadium.
Zii Jia first defeated India’s Manav Choudhary 21-19, 21-18 before returning a few hours later to beat Taiwan’s Liao Jhuo-fu 21-16, 21-13 and book his place in the main draw.
The match against Dubovenko could be evenly matched, as the Israeli also came through two qualifying matches after beating home players Tanawat Yimjit and Patcharakit Apiratchataset.
It was disappointment, however, for fellow Malaysian Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, who bowed out in the qualifying rounds after losing 19-21, 14-21 to China’s Zhu Xuanchen.
Earlier, Aidil had beaten Taiwan’s Ting Yen-chen 13-21, 21-16, 21-12.
In the men’s doubles, Choong Hon Jian also impressed after partnering Wong Vin Sean to beat Thailand’s Kittinupong Kedren-Lucas Wedler 14-21, 21-12, 21-15 in the qualifiers.
They will next take on fourth seeds Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen in the first round.
Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Mohd Haikal Nazri became the first Malaysian pair to reach the second round after defeating Hong Kong’s Hung Kuei Chun-Lui Chun Wai 22-20, 21-13.
A much tougher task awaits them next against top seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty.
It was disappointment too for women’s doubles pair Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee after the seventh seeds went down 21-16, 14-21, 14-21 to Indonesia’s Isyana Meida-Rinjani Nastine.
RESULTS
First round
Men’s doubles: Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Mohd Haikal Nazri bt Hung Kuei Chun-Lui Chun Wai (Hkg) 22-20, 21-13.
Women’s doubles: Isyana Meida-Rinjani Nastines (Ina) bt Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting 16-21, 21-14, 21-14; Hinata Suzuki-Nao Yamakita (Jpn) bt Chong Jie Yu-Vanessa Ng 21-16, 21-17.
Qualifying
Men’s singles: Lee Zii Jia bt Manav Choudhary (Ind) 21-19, 21-18; Zii Jia bt Liao Jhuo-fu (Tpe) 21-16, 21-13; Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin bt Ting Yen-chen (Tpe) 13-21, 21-16, 21-12; Zhu Xuanchen (Chn) bt Aidil 21-19, 21-14.
Men’s doubles: He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu (Chn) bt Lau Yisheng-Lim Tze Jian 21-10, 21-14; Choong Hon Jian-Wong Vin Sean bt Kittinupong Kedren-Lucas Wedler (Tha) 14-21, 21-12, 21-15.
