KUALA LUMPUR — National men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia advanced to the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics after a fierce performance, sending his good friend Anders Antonsen packing with a 21-17, 21-15 victory in the quarter-finals today.
Zii Jia showed marked improvement, bouncing back from a tough round of 16 match on Thursday, where he nearly fell to home player Toma Junior Popov.
Despite Antonsen having an extra day of rest, seventh-seeded Zii Jia dominated his fourth-seeded opponent.
The 26-year-old Kedahan consistently widened the point gap, securing a comfortable lead.
Zii Jia clinched his semi-final spot with a 21-17, 21-15 victory in 53 minutes, bringing him closer to his dream of winning Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal.
Next, Zii Jia faces world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, who upset top-seeded Shi Yuqi of China in another quarter-final match.
Vitidsarn defeated Yuqi 21-12, 21-10 in just 43 minutes. — August 3, 2024
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