Sydney: The World No. 17 Lee Zii Jia displayed encouraging signs when he cruised into the semi-finals of the Australian Open before he fell victim to the World No. 24 Weng Hong Yang of China 19-21, 21-13, 13-21 on Saturday.
Prior to the Australian Open, Lee had experienced 6 first-round exits (Malaysia Open, Badminton Asia Championships, Singapore Open, Indonesia Open, Korea Open, and Japan Open).
Highlights of Lee Zii Jia vs. Weng Hongyang In the 2023 Australian Open semi-finals:
At the Australian Open, Lee did not entirely let the fans down, nor did he necessarily live up to the perhaps unrealistic expectations of some fervent fans.
The tension in the arena was palpable when both Lee and Weng took the court on Saturday, and the spectators were eagerly awaiting the outcome of this thrilling encounter.
Weng Hongyang proved to be a formidable adversary, clinching the first game 21-19. Undeterred, Lee Zii Jia fought back valiantly in the second round, securing a hard-fought win with a score of 21-13.
The deciding game saw a breathtaking display of skill and resilience from both athletes. At the start, they exchanged blow after blow, drawing level at 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5, leaving the crowd in awe of their talent. However, it was Weng Hongyang who seized the moment, unleashing a devastating surge of 8 consecutive points, pushing the score to 14-6 and creating a significant gap. Despite Lee Zii Jia’s best efforts, Weng Hongyang maintained his dominance, eventually securing a triumphant victory with a final score of 21-13. The intense battle lasted for an incredible 1 hour and 21 minutes, leaving both players exhausted yet proud of their remarkable performance.
For Lee Zii Jia, this was his third time reaching the semi-finals after his impressive run at the Swiss Open and the All England earlier this year.
Nonetheless, the disappointment was evident on his face, as today’s loss meant he missed the opportunity to reach the final for the first time this year. The last time he had a taste of the final was during the Denmark Open in October of 2022.
Reflecting on past encounters, Weng Hongyang had proven to be a tough adversary for Lee Zii Jia, as today’s defeat marked his second consecutive loss against the Chinese shuttler. Their rivalry had begun with a win for Lee in their first meeting at the semi-finals of the Badminton Asia Championships last year. However, subsequent battles, like the Singapore Open in June this year, had ended in disappointment for Lee, with losses in the first round.
Looking ahead to the final, Weng Hongyang finds himself in a promising position, as his opponent in the final is the skilled Indian player, World No. 9 HS Prannoy, who emerged victorious in a semi-final clash with compatriot – Priyanshu Rajawat, triumphing with a score of 21-18, 21-12.
In women’s singles, Thailand’s 2013 world champion, Ratchanok Intanon, missed the chance to compete in the final for the second time this year because she had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury. Intanon suffered a 17-21 loss in the first game against Zhang Beiwen of the USA. While trailing 3-8 in the second game, she made the difficult decision to retire from the match.
After the match, Intanon posted a message on Instagram mentioning about the ankle injury she sustained during the game.
As the excitement builds for the women’s singles final, Zhang Beiwen will face off against South Korea’s World No. 19, Kim Ga Eun, who exhibited her skills with a commanding 21-10, 21-11 victory over Japan’s World No. 24, Aya Ohori.
