JAKARTA, June 14 — National men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia advanced into the second round of the 2022 Indonesian Open after beating Thailand’s Sitthikom Thammasin at Istora Senayan Stadium here today.
The 24-year-old player, the sixth seed, took 41 minutes to beat the unseeded Thai 21-15, 21-14 and will meet India’s Sameer Verma in the second round.
Zii Jia, the world number five, however, was not satisfied with his play on the opening day.
“I am not 100 per cent happy, need to reduce unforced errors and improve my focus,” he said when met by Bernama after the match.
The 2022 Badminton Asia Champion has not forgotten his 21-18, 16-21, 15-21 defeat at the hands of Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the quarter-finals of the Indonesian Masters last Friday and hoped to redeem himself this time.
“Considering it is a ‘back-to-back’ tournament, I think many players are also tired. I think it is now a matter of mental strength and focus, about staying power,” he said.
Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai upset Thailand’s world number one Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-18, 7-21, 22-20.
— Bernama
