BWF World Championships 2023: Lee Zii Jia crashes out in round of 16 after loss to Antonsen
Two-time world medallist Anders Antonsen outplayed Malaysian badminton ace Lee Zii Jia to win in straight games at the BWF World Championships on Thursday (24 August).
Badminton
Denmark's Anders Antonsen reached the quarter-final round of the BWF World Championships 2023 in Copenhagen on Thursday 24 August with a 21-18, 21-17 win over Malaysian badminton player Lee Zii Jia.
Antonsen remains in the hunt for a third World Championship medal as he looks to complete the set after winning silver and bronze in 2019 and 2021. The pair met before in the World Championships quarter-final s in 2021 where Lee retired hurt due to a blister. Backed by a fervent home crowd support at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Antonsen always seemed a step ahead of the unseeded Lee.
Little separated the two men in the opening salvos before Antonsen found the breakthrough opening a two-point gap (11-9). Although Lee caught to enforce the stalemate, Antonsen managed to get his nose in front again and opened a four-point advantage. Lee saved a game point before Antonsen took the first game 21-18.
With his tail up, Antonsen opened an early three-point lead in the second game before Lee again clawed his way back into the contest. The Dane was one step ahead throughout the game until Lee again levelled the scores. But Antonsen wrapped up the game despite a late charge by Lee to secure his place in the quarter-finals where four Danish shuttlers will be in action.
Antonsen will next meet the winner of the all-Japanese clash between Nishimoto Kenta and Tsuneyama Kanta.
Reigning Olympic and world champion Viktor Axelsen safely navigated his way into the quarterfinals beating Chou Tien-chen 21-13, 21-19 in their round of 16 clash. The Dane fought off a gutsy fightback by Chou in the second set to secure the victory to the delight of the home crowd.
Meanwhile, in the women’s competition Olympic champion Chen Yufei kept her hopes of a maiden world title alive with an impressive 21-14, 21-13 rout of Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark.
Spanish ace Carolina Marín marched into the quarterfinals with a 21-10, 21-18 victory over Burmese badminton player Thet Htar Thuzar.
The 2023 BWF World Championships in Copenhagen can be followed live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions may apply). The tournament concludes on Sunday 27 August.