Zii Jia makes remarkable comeback to win Thailand Open
Lee Zii Jia won the Thailand Open men single’s title after coolly bouncing back in the rubber set at Impact Arena in Bangkok today.
National men’s singles ace Lee (above) staged an impressive performance against China’s Li Shi Feng to lift the crown, the third Malaysian to win the title.
The world number six fought back from a game down to beat unseeded Li 17-21, 21-11, 23-21 in 70 minutes.
He trailed Li 4-11 in the decider but...
Lee Zii Jia won the Thailand Open men single’s title after coolly bouncing back in the rubber set at Impact Arena in Bangkok today.
National men’s singles ace Lee (above) staged an impressive performance against China’s Li Shi Feng to lift the crown, the third Malaysian to win the title.
The world number six fought back from a game down to beat unseeded Li 17-21, 21-11, 23-21 in 70 minutes.
He trailed Li 4-11 in the decider but managed to maintain his composure and clawed his way back to tie at 21-21. He then stepped up the tempo to pull away and win 23-21.
The two other Malaysians to win the title were Yong Hock Kin in 2001 and Hafiz Hashim (2005). It is Lee’s second consecutive title after the independent player captured the Badminton Asia Championships in Manila earlier this month.
The Kedah-born shuttler kept repeatedly telling himself to keep calm when he was down in the decider before he finally battled back to win the game.
“It is a tough match. Li played very well not only today but the entire tournament. He is a very tough opponent. I am very happy to make it through.
“I told myself not to give up when I was down 4-11. At that crucial moment, I calm myself down and kept my cool,” he told Bernama.
Lee admitted that he was mentally and physically tired after going through two earlier high-intensity tournaments – the Badminton Asia Championships and Thomas Cup but he fought hard for the title.
“I want this title very much,” he said.
Lee pocketed US$27,000 (RM118,530) while Li settled for US$13,680 (RM60,055).
Meanwhile, Taiwanese Tai Tzu Ying won the women’s single’s title after defeating China’s Chen Yu Fei 21-13,17-21, 21-12.
In the women’s doubles, Japanese pair Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida beat their compatriots Mayu Matsumoto- Wakana Nagahara 17-21,21-15, 26-24.
In the men’s doubles, Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi lifted the title after Indonesian duo Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto withdrew.
- Bernama
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