World no. 7 Lee Zii Jia’s road to history continued after his solid performance against China’s Weng Hong Yang, 21-11, 21-19, for a chance at taking his first-ever Asian title in men’s singles of the SMART Badminton Asia Championships, Saturday in Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Muntinlupa City.
This is also the first-ever stint for the 30th Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in the Asian Championships, and he is determined to make it count even as he will face Jonatan Christie in the final.
“It was a good performance and it was a good start for this year,” Lee said. “I’m happy that I made it to the final. Hopefully, I think we’ll have a good match tomorrow.”
World no. 8 Christie earlier brought down compatriot Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo in the other men’s singles semifinal match, 21-9, 18-21, 21-16.
“Christie is a tough opponent. I think I lost a few times against him, and I think he’s getting his form back from the Asian Games. So, I have to prepare for him for tomorrow,” said Lee.
It will also be a Malaysia-Indonesia battle in the men’s doubles final as world no. 9 Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, and Pramudya Kusumawardana and Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan took down their countrymen in their respective semifinals.
Chia and Soh dominated Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, 21-13, 21-15, while Kusumawardana and Rambitan outlasted world no. 8 Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, 22-20, 13-21, 21-18.
In the women’s doubles, Japan’s Iwanaga Rin and Nakanishi Kie stunned world no. 4 and more experienced compatriots Fukushima Yuki and Hirota Sayaka, coming from behind, 16-21, 21-15, 21-19. Iwanaga and Nakanishi will take on world No. 1 and reigning World Champions Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan in China.
The champions of this edition of the Badminton Asia Championships will be crowned on Sunday starting at p.m. (Philippine Standard Time).
The tournament is made possible by SMART, MVP Sports Foundation, Li-Ning, Cignal, TV5, One Sports, Robinson’s Land, Premium Megastructure Inc., Philippine Badminton Association, Badminton Asia, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, and Muntinlupa Mayor Fresnedi and the City of Muntinlupa.
