Early exit woes continue for Zii Jia

 The national men's singles shuttler is knocked out at the Macau Open, marking his fifth opening round exit in nine tournaments this year.

Lee Zii Jia’s comeback from a six-month layoff due to injury has been marred by a string of disappointing performances. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA:

National men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia was knocked out of the Macau Open in the first round of the World Tour Super 300 tournament today.

Zii Jia lost the first game easily and tried to make a comeback, but eventually fell to world No 43 shuttler Shujiwo Prahdiska Bagas of Indonesia 12-21, 20-22 in 37 minutes.

It was the world No 63 shuttler’s fourth consecutive opening round exit, and the fifth in nine World Tour championships he has played this year.

Zii Jia, who has been trying to make a comeback after a six-month layoff due to injury, has only managed to reach two quarter-finals this year and lost in the last-16 stage in the other tournaments.

Two Malaysian mixed doubles pairs advanced to the second round, including Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing, who defeated compatriots Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien 21-17, 21-8 in 30 minutes in their opening tie.

The other pair, Low Han Chen-Chan Wen Tse, took just 22 minutes to beat Indian siblings Mohit Jaglan-Lakshita Jaglan 21-9, 21-12 to book their last-16 berth.

In the men’s doubles category, Malaysia’s back-up pair of Byran Jeremy Goonting-Haikal Nazri lost to South Korea’s Jin Yong-Lee Jong Min 14-21, 12-21 in 30 minutes.

Women’s singles player S Kisona went down to India’s Rakshitha Sree 16-21, 20-22 in 45 minutes in her first round match.

Yesterday, Malaysia’s doubles pairs had a fairly good day with four men’s pairs and one women’s pair clearing their opening ties to enter the second round, which will be played tomorrow.

Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong beat Indonesia’s Putra Erwiansyah-Bagas Maulana and will meet compatriots Boon Xin Yuan-Lwi Sheng Hao in the second round, which assures Malaysia of a quarter-final spot.

Xin Yuan-Sheng Hao had defeated Indian pair Bhargav Ram Arigela-Viswa Tej Gobburu 21-16, 21-12 in 41 minutes.

Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi, who were paired only two months ago, beat Taiwan’s Su Ching Heng-Tang Kai Wei 19-21, 21-13, 21-16 in 57 minutes.

Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong beat Russian duo Rodion Alimov-Maksim Ogloblin 21-14, 21-15 in 30 minutes.

Women’s doubles pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting overcame a first game deficit to beat India’s Priya Konjengbam-Shruti Mishra 20-22, 21-16, 21-12 in 62 minutes. - FMT