Sign up now for the ticketing draw and enjoy exclusive access when tickets go live on 6 February 2025. Draw closes in January.

Don’t miss Milano Cortina 2026

The Malaysian star shuttler got a big boost for his confidence by eliminating Christie in straight games. 

Malaysia

Zii Jia

GettyImages-960806938

Badminton

Find out how Lee Zii Jia did in the first round of the BWF World Championships 2023.

BWF World Championships 2023: Lee Zii Jia advances to second round - Full results

Malaysia’s [badminton](https://olympics.com/en/sports/badminton/) star **[Lee Zii Jia](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/lee-zii-jia)** got off to a great start at the **BWF World Championships 2023 in Copenhagen** upsetting fifth seed [**Jonatan Christie**](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/jonatan-christie) of Indonesia 21-13, 21-15.

Lee needed 39 minutes on Monday (21 August) to move into round two at the worlds for the fourth consecutive time.

“Patience was the key. I'm happy that I could win this match, and it gives me a lot of confidence, after I’ve had many up and downs this year,” the 25-year-old told [Olympics.com](https://olympics.com/en).

Next up for the unseeded shuttler will be Canada's [**Brian Yang**](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/brian-yang) who ousted **Kai** **Schaefer** of Germany.

Lee admitted in an interview with [Olympics.com](https://olympics.com/en/) ahead of the tournament that he is lacking confidence at the moment as he has faced several challenges this year. Therefore, he went into the tournament with very low expectations.

His compatriot **Ng Tze Yong** also advanced after ousting China's **Zhano Jun Peng** 21-19, 26-24.

Elsewhere, [**H.S Prannoy**](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/prannoy-haseena-sunil-kumar) progressed after beating Finlands’s [**Kalle Koljonen**](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/kalle-koljonen) in straight games 24-20, 21-10. [**Loh Kean Yew**](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/kean-yew-loh) took care of [**Pablo Abian**](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/pablo-abian) (Spain) 21-12, 21-9. If Prannoy and Loh both win their second-round matches, the shuttlers will face each other in the round of 16.

Defending champion **Viktor Axelsen**, Thailand's **Kunlavut Vitidsarn,** seeded third and sixth seed **Li Shi Feng** also made it through.

World number two [**Anthony Ginting**](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/anthony-sinisuka-ginting) withdrew from the World Championships a few days before the start due to the death of his mother, who passed away on 9 August.

The tournament concludes on Sunday (27 August) and is available to stream live on [Olympic Channel](https://olympics.com/en/olympic-channel) via [Olympics.com](https://olympics.com/) (territorial restrictions may apply).

*   [How to qualify for badminton at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained](https://olympics.com/en/news/how-to-qualify-for-badminton-at-paris-2024)
*   [BWF World Championships 2023 preview: Full schedule and how to watch live](https://olympics.com/en/news/bwf-world-championships-2023-preview-full-schedule-how-to-watch-live)
*   [BWF World Championships 2023: How to watch Lee Zii Jia in live action in Copenhagen](https://olympics.com/en/news/bwf-world-championships-2023-how-to-watch-lee-zii-jia-in-live-action-in-copenhagen)
*   [BWF World Championships 2023: Malaysian star Lee Zii Jia keeps expectations low in Copenhagen](https://olympics.com/en/news/bwf-world-champs-2023-lee-zii-jia-keeps-expectations-low)
*   [BWF World Championships 2023: Emerging badminton stars to watch in Copenhagen](https://olympics.com/en/news/bwf-world-championships-2023-emerging-badminton-stars-to-watch-in-copenhagen)

Lee Zii Jia is a HUGE star in Malaysia but did you know that the badminton ace is a talented singer? Check out our fun facts about him.

Lee Zii Jia

Lee Zii Jia Five facts thumbnail

Lee Zii Jia: Top facts you did not know about the Malaysian badminton star

BWF World Championships 2023: Lee Zii Jia upsets fifth seed Jonatan Christie to move into second round 

SUZHOU, CHINA - MAY 20:  Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia compete in the  Men's Singles Semi Finals match against Jeon Hyeok Jin of Korea during day seven of the Sudirman Cup at Suzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium on May 20, 2023 in Suzhou, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

 Lee Zii Jia is coming into the 2023 BWF Badminton World Championships in great shape after reaching the semi-final at the Australian Open.

AF,AX,AL,DZ,AS,AD,AO,AI,AQ,AG,AR,AM,AW,AU,AT,AZ,BS,BH,BD,BB,BY,BE,BZ,BJ,BM,BT,BO,BQ,BA,BW,BV,BR,IO,UM,VG,VI,BN,BG,BF,BI,KH,CM,CA,CV,KY,CF,TD,CL,CN,CX,CC,CO,KM,CG,CD,CK,CR,HR,CU,CW,CY,CZ,DK,DJ,DM,DO,EC,EG,SV,GQ,ER,EE,ET,FK,FO,FJ,FI,FR,GF,PF,TF,GA,GM,GE,DE,GH,GI,GR,GL,GD,GP,GU,GT,GG,GN,GW,GY,HT,HM,VA,HN,HK,HU,IS,IN,ID,CI,IR,IQ,IE,IM,IL,IT,JM,JP,JE,JO,KZ,KE,KI,KW,KG,LA,LV,LB,LS,LR,LY,LI,LT,LU,MO,MK,MG,MW,MY,MV,ML,MT,MH,MQ,MR,MU,YT,MX,FM,MD,MC,MN,ME,MS,MA,MZ,MM,NA,NR,NP,NL,NC,NZ,NI,NE,NG,NU,NF,KP,MP,NO,OM,PK,PW,PS,PA,PG,PY,PE,PH,PN,PL,PT,PR,QA,RE,RO,RU,RW,BL,SH,KN,LC,MF,PM,VC,WS,SM,ST,SA,SN,RS,SC,SL,SG,SX,SK,SI,SB,SO,ZA,GS,KR,SS,ES,LK,SD,SR,SJ,SZ,SE,CH,SY,TW,TJ,TZ,TH,TL,TG,TK,TO,TT,TN,TR,TM,TC,TV,UG,UA,AE,GB,US,UY,UZ,VU,VE,VN,WF,EH,YE,ZM,ZW,XK

BWF World Championships 2023: Lee Zii Jia upsets fifth seed Jonatan Christie to move into second round

Related content

BWF World Championships 2023: Malaysian star Lee Zii Jia keeps expectations low in Copenhagen

BWF World Championships 2023: How to watch Lee Zii Jia in live action in Copenhagen

BWF World Championships 2023 preview: Full schedule and how to watch live

Badminton BWF World Championships 2023 draw: Jonatan Christie to face unseeded Lee Zii Jia in first round, defending champ Axelsen faces Nhat Nguyen

More from