SHAH ALAM, March 22 — Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has congratulated national top singles ace Lee Zii Jia’s outstanding performance in the All England Badminton Championships final last night.
In congratulating Zii Jia on his maiden All England title, Amirudin said the 22-year-old player from Kedah is a young star that has shined for Malaysia and had followed the footsteps of former Malaysian badminton players Hafiz Hashim dan Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
“Congratulations Lee Zii Jia on winning the 2021 All England title. Zii Jia had followed the footsteps of Hafiz Hashim dan Datuk Lee Chong Wei in making Malaysia proud by winning this renowned competition.
“His journey was not easy. (He had) defeated the top two world players as well as the defending champions in the final. A young star shining for Malaysia. ‘Negaraku’ resounding majestically in Birmingham. Congratulations Zii Jia and team Malaysia. Malaysia Boleh!” Amirudin said in a posting on his Facebook page last night.
Zii Jia won the men’s singles title with a pulsating 30-29, 20-22, 21-9 win over Viktor Axelsen of Denmark at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
He is the first Malaysian shuttler to emerge champion in the world’s oldest badminton tournament since 2017, when Datuk Lee Chong Wei overpowered Shi Yu Qi of China 21-12, 21-10.
Zii Jia takes home US$59,500 (RM244,344) as champion.
