KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 – It will be left to be seen if Malaysia top men’s shuttler Lee Zii Jia can ride on his luck when he plays Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, ranked 40 in the Hylo Badminton Open in Saarbrucken, Germany on Sunday.
The Malaysian number one, ranked No 8, overcame India’s former World No 1 K. Srikanth in the semi-final with a 21-19, 22-20 win within 44 minutes.
The Penang-born Kean Yew, continued his run in the German meet with a 21-18, 21-12 win over India’s Lakshya Sen in 46 minutes.
For the record, Kean Yew, goes into the final with a psychological advantage of having beaten the Malaysian in last month’s French Open in the first round when he knocked out the reigning All-England champion in straight games 24-22, 21-14.
Zii Jia certainly had luck on his side against Srikanth when the Indian buckled under pressure in the second game after losing the first 21-19.
Srikanth was leading 15-9 before the Malaysian got second wind to get back into the picture.
The BWF Super 500 World Tour event will also feature a Singaporean in the women’s singles final.
Yeo Jian Min will plays Thailand’s fifth seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan for the title after she upset No 3 seed Michelle Li of Canada in three games – 21-12, 23-25, 21-12.
In the other semifinal Ongbamrungphan defeated compatriot Phittayaporn Chaiwan in a three-game thriller to prevail 16-21, 21-17, 21-18.
Most of the top players did not participate in this year’s Hylo Open.
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