PETALING JAYA: Lee Zii Jia has waited for an extended time to create his maiden All-England look. And it might be over in a jiffy.
After observing from the sidelines last year, the 21-year-old’s can play his 1st All-England match once he takes on world No. six Jonatan Christie within the opener at the arena Birmingham today.
In fact, he may are created to wait longer if the uk government had not granted the organisers the green light to proceed with the world’s oldest badminton tournament, despite to the Covid-19 occurrence.
Zii Jia did travel Birmingham last year because the 1st reserve, hoping to be enclosed at the last minute within the prime thirty two main draw. however there was no last-minute withdrawals, and he finished up as merely a spectator.
It’s currently up to the world No. fifteen to seize the opportunity and create it a unforgettable debut however it'll be easier aforesaid than done.
On paper a minimum of, Zii Jia looks destined to be heading for a first round exit. He has ne'er beaten his first-round opponent, Asian Games gold medallist Jonatan christie, altogether previous 5 encounters.
He did not even steal a game within the last 3 defeats, with the most recent being within the team event final at the Manila sea Games last December.
But there’s a glimmer of hope – Jonatan has been troubled to impress of late.
At the Asia Team Championships last month, Indonesia emerged champions however Jonatan lost 3 of his four matches together with one to Malaysia’s to Wei.
He additionally did not get past the quarter-finals at the Malaysian and Indonesian Masters in January.
Zii Jia are going to be planning to do better than Lee Chong wei, who lost within the 1st round in his debut in 2003, the year Hafiz Hashim finished the nation’s thirty seven years wait for the title.
Chong wei went on to become champion four times – 2010,2011,2014 and 2017 – putt him on par with legends Wong Peng soon and Eddy Choong.
With world No. one Kento Momota not returning to defend his title, the men’s singles competition is set to be AN open affair with the likes of Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, China’s Chen Long and Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting all trying to pounce on the chance.
Axelsen, who came in second best to Momota within the final last year, can re-attempt to become the first European men’s singles champion since compatriot Peter Gade last won in 1999, whereas Chen Long are going to be seeking his third after last tasted success in 2015.
All eyes will get on China’s fading star lin Dan, who is anticipated to bid farewell to the tournament having won on six occassions.
Interestingly, lin Dan can face three-time world junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of thailand, touted because the next massive issue of world’s badminton, today.
If something, Malaysia’s best hopes for titles can again rest on the shoulders of the men’s doubles and mixed doubles shuttlers.
Last year, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik pulled off a surprising debut show by creating it all the way to the final before taking place to Indonesia’s Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan, whereas Goh shortly Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie were the opposite high performers with their excellent semi-final outing.
After observing from the sidelines last year, the 21-year-old’s can play his 1st All-England match once he takes on world No. six Jonatan Christie within the opener at the arena Birmingham today.
In fact, he may are created to wait longer if the uk government had not granted the organisers the green light to proceed with the world’s oldest badminton tournament, despite to the Covid-19 occurrence.
Zii Jia did travel Birmingham last year because the 1st reserve, hoping to be enclosed at the last minute within the prime thirty two main draw. however there was no last-minute withdrawals, and he finished up as merely a spectator.
It’s currently up to the world No. fifteen to seize the opportunity and create it a unforgettable debut however it'll be easier aforesaid than done.
On paper a minimum of, Zii Jia looks destined to be heading for a first round exit. He has ne'er beaten his first-round opponent, Asian Games gold medallist Jonatan christie, altogether previous 5 encounters.
He did not even steal a game within the last 3 defeats, with the most recent being within the team event final at the Manila sea Games last December.
But there’s a glimmer of hope – Jonatan has been troubled to impress of late.
At the Asia Team Championships last month, Indonesia emerged champions however Jonatan lost 3 of his four matches together with one to Malaysia’s to Wei.
He additionally did not get past the quarter-finals at the Malaysian and Indonesian Masters in January.
Zii Jia are going to be planning to do better than Lee Chong wei, who lost within the 1st round in his debut in 2003, the year Hafiz Hashim finished the nation’s thirty seven years wait for the title.Chong wei went on to become champion four times – 2010,2011,2014 and 2017 – putt him on par with legends Wong Peng soon and Eddy Choong.
With world No. one Kento Momota not returning to defend his title, the men’s singles competition is set to be AN open affair with the likes of Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, China’s Chen Long and Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting all trying to pounce on the chance.
Axelsen, who came in second best to Momota within the final last year, can re-attempt to become the first European men’s singles champion since compatriot Peter Gade last won in 1999, whereas Chen Long are going to be seeking his third after last tasted success in 2015.
All eyes will get on China’s fading star lin Dan, who is anticipated to bid farewell to the tournament having won on six occassions.Interestingly, lin Dan can face three-time world junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of thailand, touted because the next massive issue of world’s badminton, today.
If something, Malaysia’s best hopes for titles can again rest on the shoulders of the men’s doubles and mixed doubles shuttlers.
