KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 – Brazilian Ygor Coelho gave Malaysian hope Lee Zii Jia a run for his money and a strong message before bowing out in the BWF World Championships in a three game thriller in a second round match on Wednesday.
Zii Jia, the All-England champion, toiled for 58 minutes to subdue Coelho 21-14, 22-24, 21-14 in Huelva, Spain at the world meet that has been hit by a spate of withdrawals, including Kento Momota and the entire Indonesian team.
The World Championships has also lost its glamour status with the surprise defeats of World No 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei.
In the third round on Thursday, Denmark veteran Hans-Kristian Vittinghus advanced with a three-game 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 win over Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama in 63 minutes – never giving up even when the chips were down.
It was a big relief for Zii Jia when he clinched the match against the Brazilian. With a clenched fist, the Malaysian let a loud yell that he is still alive at the championships. Zii Jia, however, will have to up his game to continue his journey in Huelva.
In another men’s singles match Malaysian professional Liew Daren blamed his ”lack of fitness and power” in the game in his straight game defeat to India’s Prannoy HS in 42 minutes. The Indian won 21-7, 21-17.
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong defeated Japan’s Hiroki Okamura-Masayuki Onodera in the men’s doubles.
The Malaysians, who are playing their final tournament as a professional pair, advanced with a 21-15, 22-24, 21-16 win in 66 minutes.
The former world number one and Asian Games champions, had a first round bye and next face the German pair of Bjarne Geiss-Jan Colin Volker.
Fourth seeds Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik also got into the fray but were taken the full distance before getting past China’s Ou Xuan Yi-Zhang Nan with a hard fought 21-19, 20-22, 21-16 win.
However, it was a delight to see top Malaysian pair strutting their stuff with good chemistry during the 56 minutes they were on the court.
Aaron Chia-Wooi Yik have another Chinese wall scale in the next round when they face sixth seeds He Jiting-Tan Qiang who beat the English pair of Callum Hemming-Steven Stallwood 16-21, 21-12, 21-12.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, the sixth seeds in the mixed doubles, roared to a straight game 21-13, 21-16 win over Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh-Supisarra Paewsampran in 31 minutes.
It is a morale boosting win the Malaysian pair who next play Hong Kong China’s Yeung Ming Nok-Ng Tsz Yau.
About The Author
