Kuala Lumpur: Lee Zii Jia cleared the first round of the 2024 Indonesia Open after defeating Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long in Jakarta today.
Zii Jia defeated Ka Long 21-17, 21-16 in the first round of the Super 1000 tournament, making it his fifth win in a row against Ka Long.
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Zii Jia, who moved up to world No 7 this week, will face Weng Hong Yang of China in the second round. The two met previously at the 2023 French Open, which Zii Jia won 21-15, 21-11.
Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Pearly Tan-M Thinaah were also through to the next round in the men’s and women’s doubles events after beating their South Korean and Taiwanese rivals, respectively.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun pulled off a surprise, coming out on top against the world No 3 pair of Kang Min Hyuk-Seo Seung Jae 20-22, 21-16, 21-17 in 59 minutes.
The Malaysians, ranked 20th in the world, finally turned the tide after losing their two previous encounters against the South Koreans, at the 2023 Malaysian Masters and 2023 Korean Open.
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Wei Chong-Kai Wun will meet either the Danish pair of Rasmus Kjaer-Frederick Sogaard, or Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi of China in the second round.
In the women’s doubles, Pearly-Thinaah prevailed over Taiwan’s Sung Shuo Yun-Yu Chien Hui 21-19, 22-20.
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The pair, ranked 13th in the world, will face host Indonesians Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti-Apriyani Rahayu in the second round.
Pearly-Thinaah have beaten Siti Fadia-Apriyani in previous encounters, at the 2022 Malaysian Masters and the 2022 French Open.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s two mixed doubles pairs were dumped out of the competition. Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei lost to South Koreans Seo Seung Jae-Chae Yu Jung, 13-21, 15-21, and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, who won the Malaysia Masters on May 26, were defeated 21-16, 17-21, 10-21 by Hong Kong’s Lee Chun Hei Reginald-Ng Tsz Yau.
Men’s doubles combination Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri were also beaten by Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan 21-18, 16-21, 17-21.
Women’s singles entrant Goh Jin Wei was eliminated by sixth seed Wang Zhi Yi of China 15-21, 17-21.