Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024: Lee Zii Jia comes from behind to reach quarter-finals
The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist goes three games again to beat Chinese Taipei's Su Li-yang and progress to the last eight in Japan.
Badminton
Lee Zii Jia got it done the hard way again, returning from a game down to beat Su Li-yang in the second round of the BWF Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 on Thursday (14 November).
Badminton's Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist reached the quarter-finals with a 19-21, 21-8, 21-16 victory over his Chinese Taipei opponent.
A night after going the distance to beat Malaysian compatriot Justin Hoh, Lee needed slightly more than an hour to get past Su, who he had beaten in their lone previous meeting back in March at the Swiss Open.
Midway through the first game, Lee could not pry open a lead of more than three points, allowing Su to inch towards him and even the score at 19. Su, the world No. 34, won the next two points to go up 1-0 on the gentle giant.
The second set was one-sided as the Malaysian made the adjustments. From 1-1, he pulled and pulled away, capturing eight of the final 11 points to invite a third game.
Lee managed to stay locked in for the decider. Su was ahead 3-2 early on but that would be the last lead he would see as Lee powered to a 20-10 advantage.
Su did not go away quietly though, winning the ensuing six points to make his opponent nervous before Lee finally capitalised on match point on his seventh try.
Next, Lee will face Indonesia's Jonatan Christie who defeated Denmark's Rasmus Gemke 22-20, 21-17.
Despite being a straight games win, fourth-seed Christie certainly didn't have everything his own way as the lead constantly changed hands.
However, the Asian star's greater composure in the important points eventually sealed the tie in 51 minutes.
Viktor Axelsen edges Lei Lanxi to progress
Men's No. 1 seed and two-time Olympic men’s singles defending champion Viktor Axelsen was also made to work to reach the last eight, defeating Lei Lanxi 14-21, 21-14, 21-9.
Axelsen required 65 minutes to defeat the 28th-ranked Lei who, a day earlier, knocked out Singaporean star Loh Kean Yew. Axelsen faces Christo Popov of France in the next round.
The top women’s seed, Wang Zhi Yi of the People’s Republic of China, was bounced 26-24, 21-18 by the Republic of Korea's Sim Yujin in a 51-minute slugfest that was close from start to finish.
Elsewhere in the women's draw, Michelle Li of Canada came from behind to eliminate Indian veteran PV Sindhu 17-21, 21-16, 21-17, while Japanese second seed Yamaguchi Akane beat Lo Sin Yan Happy of Hong Kong, China, 21-12, 21-8 to make the quarters.
The biggest upset of the day came with Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong beating Chinese fourth seed Han Yue 17-21, 21-12.