KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Zii Jia's hopes of meeting Kento Momota will not materialise after the Japanese World No 1 was sent packing in the first round of the Malaysia Masters on Wednesday.
While the Malaysian fought hard to notch a 14-21, 21-18, 21-10 win over Thailand's Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in the first round, Momota fell short in his bid to clinch the Malaysia Masters crown when he succumbed to a 21-15, 14-21, 22-20 defeat in the hands of compatriot Kenta Nishimoto.
Zii Jia will face Nishimoto on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile in the men's doubles, national No 1, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik lived up to expectations when they upset Rio Olympic Games bronze medallists Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge of England 21-19, 21-12.
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong also made it to the second round following a 21-14, 19-21, 21-9 win over China's Di Zijian-Wang Chang.
Fresh from winning the Thailand Masters last week, the Rio Olympic Games silver medallists will take on former world champions Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia on Thursday for a place in the last eight.