KUALA LUMPUR: Men's singles Lee Zii Jia is all set for one last push in his quest to be crowned Asian champion after reaching the final of the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) today.
In the semi-finals, Zii Jia produced another top performance to end the gallant run of China's Weng Hong Yang with a solid 21-11, 21-19 win at the Muntilupa Sports Complex in Manila.
The world No 7 will play an in-form Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the final on Sunday.
The Indonesian defeated compatriot and Sea Games-bound Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo 21-9, 18-21, 21-16 in the other last-four match.
In his post-match interview, Zii Jia said: "In time, Hong Yang will become a top player.
"Tomorrow I will face Jonatan, who is another tough opponent. I will do my best to be fully prepared."
For the record, former world No 1 Lee Chong Wei was the last Malaysian to win the men's singles title, achieved in 2016.
In the men's doubles, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik powered past compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, with a convincing 21-13, 21-15 win to reach their first Super 1000 final since the 2020 Thailand Open.
Aaron-Wooi Yik will face Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan in the final today, following the Indonesian pair's 22-20, 13-21, 21-18 upset over compatriots Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto.
RESULTS
S-FINALS
(MALAYSIA UNLESS STATED)
Men's singles: Lee Zii Jia bt Weng Hong Yang (Chn) 21-11, 21-19; Jonathan Christie (Ina) bt Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo (Ina) 21-9, 18-21, 21-16.
Doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 21-13, 21-15; Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan (Ina) bt Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Ina) 22-20, 13-21, 21-18.
Women's singles: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) bt P.V. Sindhu (Ind) 13-21, 21-19, 21-16; Wang Zhi Yi (Chn) bt An Se Young (Kor) 10-21, 21-12, 21-16.
Doubles: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yi Fan (Chn) bt Du Yue-Li Wen Mei (Chn) 21-12, 21-17; Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi (Jpn) bt Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota (Jpn) 16-21, 21-15, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Wang Yi Lyu-Huang Dong Ping (Chn) bt Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino (Jpn) 21-12, 24-22; Zheng Siwei-Huang Ya Qiong (Chn) bt Praveen Jordan-Melati Daeva Oktavianti (Ina) 21-8, rtd.