ALOR SETAR: National men’s singles player, Lee Zii Jia is determined to cause an upset as Malaysia take to the courts at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Alor Setar today for their final group stage match against Taiwan after easily seeing off Myanmar’s challenge by thrashing them 5-0 yesterday at the Asia Team Championship.
Zii Jia, playing for the first time as the first singles, admits that today will be very important for Malaysia after losing their first group stage match to neighboring Thailand 3-2 on Tuesday.
“What’s most important is today’s match, as the match against Myanmar was more like a warm up session. I hope that we can overcome Taiwan. Yes I was very disappointed after we went down to Thailand,” he said.
Zii Jia, who hails from Alor Setar said that he does not want to think too much about the first loss to the Thais even though he won last night’s first singles against Myanmar.
“I am hoping that I can maintain my confidence as I have won two games in a row here. And I am ready to take on Taiwan’s Hsu Jen Hao in the second singles match even though he has beaten me before when we played in the second round of the New Zealand Open last year,” he said.
Zii Jia was at the top of his game yesterday as he showed no mercy to Myanmar’s Phone Pyae Naing as he despatched his opponent in straight games 21-3, 21-10.
Malaysia’s second point was delivered by second singles Soong Joo Ven who faced no problems in beating Aung Myo Htoo 21-9, 21-7 before Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin confirmed Malaysia’s much needed victory by overcoming Chan Win Ho, 21-10, 21-10.
First doubles Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi then earned Malaysia’s fourth point when they saw off Arkar Phone Myat-Hein Si Thu Toe 21-5, 21-5, while young pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani then wrapped thing up by defeating Aung Myo-Chan Win 21-12, 21-9 to complete the rout.
Today’s group stage match against Taiwan will be a do-or-die mission for the national team and only victory will enable them to hunt for a place in the quarter-finals.