Badminton

Zii Jia reaches Indonesia Masters last 16

KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Zii Jia kick-started his quest for a third title on the trot by outclassing Thailand's Kantaphon Wangcharoen today to reach the last 16 of the Indonesia Masters.

World No 5 Zii Jia took just 38 minutes to seal an emphatic 21-16, 21-12 win over the Thai at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta as he extended his unbeaten streak to 14 matches.

Zii Hia, 24, will aim to continue his impressive run against Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands next.

Top seed and world No 1 Viktor of Axelsen of Denmark also got off to a convincing start by routing Indonesian Shesar Hiren Rhustavito 21-14, 21-7.

The other top guns advanced, including home favourite and two-time winner Anthony Ginting, reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew and India's Lakhsya Sen. The only exception was Indonesia's sixth seed Jonatan Christie, who was sent packing 10-21, 21-14, 21-11 by Zhao Jun Peng of China.

In the mixed doubles, Korea Open champions Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing suffered an uncharacteristic first round exit with an 8-21, 21-19, 21-17 loss to world No 65 Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito of Japan.

New combination Chen Tang Jie-Valeree Siow failed to make an impact in the mixed doubles, losing tamely 21-17, 21-7 to Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari of Indonesia.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

(Malaysians only)

Men's singles: Lee Zii Jia bt Kantaphon Wangcharoen (Tha) 21-16, 21-12, Lu Guangzu (Chn) bt Liew Daren 21-16, 23-21, Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) bt Soong Joo Ven 21-15, 22-20

Men's doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt Tan Kian Meng-Tan Wee Kiong 21-11, 21-19, Liu Yu Chen-Ou Xuan Yi (Chn) bt Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 21-15, 21-19

Women's doubles: Arlya Munggaran-Agnia Sri Rahayu (Ina) bt Low Yeen Yuan-Valeree Siow 21-18, 21-16

Mixed doubles: Hoo Pang Ron-Toh Ee Wei bt Chang Tak Ching-Ng Wing Yung (Hkg) 21-19, 21-13, Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje (Den) bt Choong Hon Jian-Peck Yen Wei 21-13, 11-21, 21-19, Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari (Ina) bt Chen Tang Jie-Valeree Siow 21-17, 21-7, Hidori Morikawa-Natsu Saito (Jpn) bt Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing 8-21, 21-19, 21-17, Supak Jomkoh-Saupissara Paewsampran (Tha) bt Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai 21-17, 21-16

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