BWF Australian Open 2023: How to watch Lee Zii Jia live in Sydney as he looks to avoid another first-round upset
You can watch Lee Zii Jia at the BWF World Tour Super 500 event in Sydney, Australia, on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com in selected territories. Here are the full details.
Badminton
Lee Zii Jia has a good chance to avoid another first-round exit from a badminton World Tour tournament this week when he plays at the BWF Australian Open 2023, which runs from 1–6 August.
Malaysia's Lee has lost successively in the first round in his last four World Tour tournaments, including two after returning from an enforced break. Now, the world number 18 is in Sydney, seeking to regain his very best form. The tournament is available to stream live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions may apply).
The Australian Open is the last of three successive tournaments Lee's new coach Wong Tat Meng marked out for his charge to set a benchmark for their future training together. However, Zii Jia suffered round-of-32 exits at both the Korea Open and Japan Open, to go with a first-round knockout at the Indonesia and Singapore Opens prior to his break.
With the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifying ranking window open, Lee needs crucial qualifying points if he is to represent Malaysia in the French capital next year – he currently sits behind Ng Tze Yong among Malaysian shuttlers.
In Sydney, Lee has been drawn to face a qualifier in the first round, which could even be Malaysian teammates Leong Jun Hao or Cheam June Wei - with both of them set to face each other in the qualifying draw.
If Lee does finally make it to the second round, he could face another man whose form has been inconsistent this year, but reached the Korea Open final two weeks ago: Loh Kean Yew, the Singaporean fourth seed.
Should Zii Jia make it to the last eight, Indonesia's Jonatan Christie is likely to lie in wait.
Australian Open badminton 2023: How to watch on TV and livestream online
You can watch the badminton Australian Open 2023 on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions may apply).
It will also be available on the BWF TV YouTube channel and on various domestic television broadcasters (Astro in Malaysia). Check local listings for details.
For fans in Malaysia, Sydney is two hours ahead of Malaysian time.
If you are unable to find a screen to watch the matches, look out for Olympics.com's reports on the results and best of the action from the event.