Lee Zii Jia powers on as Malaysia's lone singles shuttler left at World Championships
MALAYSIA'S top men's shuttler Lee Zii Jia breezed into the round of 16 at the Badminton World Championships in Tokyo on Wednesday (24 August) with a comfortable victory over Portugal's Bernardo Atilano.
The world No.5 was in imperious form as he dominated his world No.138 opponent, carving out a 21-9, 21-13 win in just 35 minutes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
In the round of 16, Lee will face China's Zhao Junpeng, who defeated last World Championships' runner-up Kidambi Srikanth of India 21-9, 21-17.
The 24-year-old is Malaysia's lone hope in the singles competitions, after Soniia Cheah - the remaining Malaysian in the women's singles - was knocked out by China's Chen Yufei 17-21, 15-21 in their round-of-32 tie.
Doubles pairs advance with much trouble
There was better news in the doubles competitions for Malaysia, with several pairs advancing into the last-16.
Veteran mixed doubles duo Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai had little trouble defeating England's Gergory Mairs and Jenny Moore 21-13, 21-18 in 33 minutes, while recently-crown Commonwealth Games women's doubles gold winners Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah also cruised through with a 21-8, 21-17 win over India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand in 36 minutes.
Another women's doubles pair, Vivian Hoo and Lim Chiew Sien, advanced after their round-of-32 opponents, Canada's Rachel Honderich and Kristen Tsai withdrew from the competition.
Men's doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were pushed hard by their opponents, Taiwan's Lu Ching-yao and Yang Po-han, but managed to pull out at 22-20, 21-18 victory in 42 minutes.
In the round of 16, they will face compatriots Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, who defeated Ireland's Joshua Magee and Paul Reynolds 21-13, 21-12 to advance.
However, another men's doubles duo Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi crashed out, losing 20-22, 20-22 to Singapore's Terry Hee and Loh Kean Hean.
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