KUALA LUMPUR: The match was his for the taking but too many unforced errors cost Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia dearly, as he crashed out of the Tokyo Olympics round of 16 today.
After a commanding win in the first game, the All England champion allowed China's Olympic defending champion Chen Long to get back into the match.
Chen Long took full advantage to prevail 8-21, 21-19, 21-5.
Chen Long, playing in his first tournament since losing to Zii Jia in the 2020 All England, will take on second seed Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan in the last eight tomorrow.
This is the first Olympics since the 2008 edition that Malaysia will not have a men's singles medallist.
Former World No 1 Lee Chong Wei won three straight silver medals, before hanging up his racquet in 2019.