All England Open 2023: Ng Tze Yong Knocks Out Olympic Champion Axelsen, Lee Zii Jia Enters Quarter-Finals

Ng Tze Yong All England Open
Ng Tze Yong All England Open

Ng Tze Yong, a Malaysian shuttler who is ranked 28th in the world, has achieved an amazing feat by defeating Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen who’s ranked the number one badminton player in the world at the prestigious badminton tournament, the All England Open in Birmingham this morning.

What went down during the match between Ng Tze Yong and Viktor Axelsen

The 23-year-old fought fiercely to dethrone Axelsen, the defending champion, with a stunning 21-18, 9-21, 23-21 win in a tight last-16 match.

In the third game, Tze Yong took a four-point lead at 19-15, but the Dane fought back for his first match-point opportunity. However, he converted his first match-point opportunity and won the third game at 23-21 in a match that lasted 69 minutes.

“I want to congratulate Ng Tze Yong, I think he played a great game,” said Viktor Axelsen in a post-match interview, “Today Ng Tze Yong deserved the win.”

The feat was certainly amazing considering that the young Malaysian became one of only four players to defeat the Danish badminton champion in the past 15 months.

Ng Tze Yong’s incredible performance was a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport, and his recent victory secures him a spot in the quarter-finals tomorrow morning at 3 AM – where he will face Chinese shuttler, Li Shi Feng who’s currently ranked No. 14 in the world.

Malaysians and fans of the sport were left in awe by Ng Tze Yong’s skill and tenacity as he faced off against one of the best players in the world. Despite the tough competition, he remained focused and determined, ultimately emerging victorious and solidifying his place as one rookie player everyone should be on the lookout for.

In the aftermath of his victory, Ng Tze Yong has received widespread praise from fans and fellow players alike. Many have commented on his incredible skill and mental fortitude, noting that he remained composed and focused throughout the match even when facing a tough opponent.

Retired World No. 1 badminton star and fellow Malaysian, Lee Chong Wei took to Instagram to congratulate the up-and-coming shuttler for his amazing performance this morning.

Ng Tze Yong All England Open
Image credit: Instagram/ @leechongweiofficial

Others have pointed out that Ng Tze Yong’s win is a sign of the increasing competitiveness of the badminton world, with more and more players from around the globe rising to the top and challenging established stars like Axelsen.

It is truly inspiring to see such a display of talent and sportsmanship, and we can’t wait to see what Ng Tze Yong will achieve next in his career.

Malaysian shuttler, Lee Zii Jia made it to the All England Open quarter-finals

Image credit: Instagram/ @leeziijia
Image credit: Instagram/ @leeziijia

National top men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia booked a spot in the quarter-finals of the All-England Badminton Championship in Birmingham. In just 40 minutes, Zii Jia who’s ranked world No. 4, ousted Japanese player Kenta Nishimoto 21-15, 21-10 in the second round earlier today.

Lee Zii Jia began the 2023 season without qualifying for the quarter-finals of all four tournaments he participated in. He was eliminated in the first round of the Malaysia Open, followed by the second round of the India Open, Indonesia Masters, and the latest German Open last week.

The 2021 All England champion will face another Japanese player, Kodai Naraoka, in the quarter-final action – which is expected to start later today, 17 March at 6 PM MYT while Ng Tze Yong will be playing in the All England Open q-finals tomorrow morning, 18 March at 3 AM MYT.

This story first appeared in Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur