GEORGE TOWN, Jan 21 — Former world number one, Datuk Lee Chong Wei hopes that Zulfadli Zulkiffli will learn from his dramatic defeat in the third round of the Malaysian Masters Badminton Championship Gold Grand Prix (Gold GP) held at the SPICE Arena, here today.

Chong Wei, who was disappointed that he could not see the former 2011 world junior champion to continue in the campaign, hoped Zulfadli would not continue to be dejected but would make a resurgence in future championships.

“I was able to watch the Zulfadli match (against Ajay). I was rather disappointed (that he lost) because this was his opportunity to perform, but at least with the defeat, he would learn something. “Zulfadli can learn something where he was defeated despite leading earlier,” he told reporters, here today.

In the third round of the men's singles, Zulfadli, 22, who was almost winning the match, had to face defeat 21-11, 8-21, 20-22 to Indian shuttler, Ajay Jayaram in a dramatic contest.

Meanwhile, Chong Wei, who remains on the fifth ranking in the world according to the latest ranking of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) today, took 28 minutes to overcome Derek Wong Zi Liang from Singapore, 21-10,21-10.

Chong Wei, who is also the first seed in the championship, is scheduled to face Ajay in the quarterfinals tomorrow. — Bernama