Manila: Malaysia’s World No. 7 Lee Zii Jia showed no fear in the 2022 Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) semi-final on Saturday, blasting away the World No. 81 Weng Hong Yang of China – who has been touted as the next Lin Dan, 21-11 and 21-19 to reach the final.
The No. 3 seed Lee Zii Jia didn’t give Weng any chances and won the first game easily. However, Weng who came out of nowhere to win the Korea Open 3 weeks ago, gave Lee a stronger fight in the second set as he surged from 14-16 to tie the game at 16-16. Lee then scored three consecutive points to lead at 19-16, and Weng narrowed the gap to 19-20. Lee then destroyed Weng’s hopes while keeping alive his own improbable dream of winning the 2022 BAC by wrapping up the second game 21-19.
Lee will take on the No. 4 seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the final. Christie defeated compatriot Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo 21-9, 18-21, 21-16 in the other men’s semi-final.
In an all-Malaysian men’s doubles semi-final battle, World No. 9 Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik eliminated compatriots, the World No. 16 Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin 21-13, 21-15 to set up a final clash with Indonesia’s World No. 22 Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan.
Kusumawardana/Rambitan upset World No. 8 and compatriots Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto 22-20, 13-21, 21-18 in 51 minutes.
The mixed doubles No. 1 seeds Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong earned a chance to exact revenge for their loss in the Tokyo Olympics finals over compatriots the No. 3 seeds Wang Yi Lyu/Huang Dong Ping as they were set to face each other in the final.
Meanwhile, Akane Yamaguchi of Japan will play Wang Zhi Yi of China in the women’s singles final while Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan of China will meet Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi of Japan in the women’s doubles final.
