KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Zii Jia got his 2021 badminton campaign off to a flying start when the national men's singles won the first round of the Yonex Thailand Open today.
The 23-year-old, whose fiery form came to an abrupt halt last season due to the suspension of the World Tour calendar, defeated India's H.S. Prannoy, 13-21, 21-14, 21-8 in the first round.
Zii Jia will face another Indian shuttler, K.Srikanth, in the second round tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, Malaysian Liew Daren pulled off the biggest upset of the competition so far when he upset World No. 3 Anders Antonsen of Denmark, 21-12, 21-8 in the opening round.
The former World Championships bronze medal winner will play Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu next for a place in the last eight.
In the women's singles first round, S. Kisona, who had her walkover overturned by the Badminton World Federation, lost in straight games 21-15, 21-15, to India's Saina Nehwal.
Kisona's defeat saw the end of Malaysia's interest in the women's singles after national No. 1 Soniia Cheah bowed out earlier, going down 21-15, 21-12 to South Korea's An Se Young.