KUALA LUMPUR - Top national men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia suffered the embarrassment of a first round exit on home ground when he was sent packing 21-13, 17-21, 19-21 by rising Japanese star Kodai Naraoka in the Malaysia Open at the Axiata Arena, here, today.
Although world number two Zii Jia began strongly, taking the first set 21-13, the seventh-ranked Japanese gallantly fought back to take the second set 21-17.
The thight rubber set saw the 21-year-old Japanese ace emerge victorious, edging the Malaysian 21-19 after a 72-minute battle.
Naraoka will now face another Malaysian - Ng Tze Yong - in the last 16 tomorrow.
Zii Jia has suffered early exits in the Malaysian Open before. Apart from his second-round loss to unheralded Indonesian player Shesar Hiren Rhustavito last year, he also suffered a first-round defeat to Thailand’s Suppanyu Avihingsanon in 2019.
Meanwhile, men's doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik cruised into the second round after disposing off Taiwan's Lee Jhe-Huei-Yang Po-Hsuan 16-21, 21-15, 21-16 in their first round match. - BERNAMA