PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s campaign at the Thailand Open came to an end in the first round after he fell to Israel’s Daniil Dubovenko.
In what was their first meeting on court, world No. 67 Zii Jia fell to world No. 60 Dubovenko 20-22, 10-21 in 38 minutes in Bangkok yesterday.
Zii Jia, who had won the Thailand Open twice in 2022 and 2024, entered the main draw this year through qualification.
The results came as a disappointment for Zii Jia, who was showing signs that he was returning to form following an unbeaten run at the Thomas Cup in Horsens earlier this month.
Meanwhile, men’s doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani’s return to the Thailand Open got off to a shaky start but the former world No. 1 pair survived to enter the second round.
The world No. 9 combo had to go the distance against Japan’s 163rd-ranked Hiroki Okamura-Kyohei Yamashita at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, but came through to win 21-15, 17-21, 21-12 in 56 minutes yesterday. Sze Fei admitted that the pair had some adjusting to do to the court conditions, but were overall satisfied with how they held their ground on court.
“It wasn’t 100 percent for us, but our strategy worked for the most part which allowed us to control the game,” said Sze Fei.
“But we do need to manage court conditions better, especially when it comes to managing the number of high lifts.”
The duo have not competed at the Super 500 tournament in Thailand since 2022, where they ended their run in the quarter-finals.
Seeded third, Sze Fei-Izzuddin are set to meet China’s Huang Di-Liu Yang in the second round.
Meanwhile, men’s doubles duo Choong Hon Jian-Wong Vin Sean saw their debut as a pair end early after they bowed out in the opening round.
Hon Jian-Vin Sean went down fighting to fourth seed Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen 20-22, 26-24, 7-21 in 63 minutes.
It was Hon Jian-Vin Sean’s first outing together after the former split with ex-partner Mohd Haikal Nazri last month.
They had entered the main draw after defeating home players Kittinupong Kedren-Lucas Wedler in the qualifiers.
It was also the end of the road for women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei, who fell to Thailand’s Yataweemin Ketklieng 21-13, 19-21, 16-21.
FIRST-ROUND RESULTS
Men’s singles: Daniil Dubovenko (Isr) bt Lee Zii Jia 22-20, 21-10.
Men’s doubles: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani bt Hiroki Okamura-Kyohei Yamashita (Jpn) 21-15, 17-21, 21-12; Chia Weijie-Teo Ee Yi bt Rian Ardianto-Rahmat Hidayat (Ina) 20-22, 21-19, 21-11; Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn Ayub bt Alexander Dunn-Adam Pringle (Sco) 21-11, 21-15; Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi (Chn) bt Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong 21-9, 21-14; Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen (Tpe) bt Choong Hon Jian-Wong Vin Sean 22-20, 24-26, 21-7.
Women’s singles: Yataweemin Ketklieng (Tha) bt Goh Jin Wei 13-21, 21-19, 21-16.
