KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — National top men’s shuttler Lee Zii Jia suffered another heartbreak when he crashed out of the first round of Indonesia Open 2021 in Bali today.

Zii Jia lost in three games to Rasmus Gemke of Denmark, who also eliminated him in the opening round of the Indonesia Masters on November 16 after the former retired due to a back injury while trailing 9-11 in the first game.

Today, despite taking the first game at 21-11, the seventh seeded Zii Jia committed too many unforced errors after that for the unseeded Rasmus to stage a comeback and win the next two games at 25-23, 21-16.

Commenting on Zii Jia’s performance, his coach Hendrawan admitted that Rasmus played much better than the Malaysian in the last two games.

However, the Indonesian coach said he was relieved that Zii Jia did not sustain any injury and was in good condition after today’s match. 

Tokyo Olympics men’s doubles bronze medallists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are through to the next round after beating Mark Lamsfuss-Marvin Seidel of Germany 25-23, 21-12.

The world number six pair will next face compatriots Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, who beat another Malaysian pair Tan Kian Meng-Tan Wee Kiong 21-11, 21-11.

Young national duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani also made it to the second round as they ousted French pair Christo Popov-Toma Junior Popov, 22-20, 21-10.

Nevertheless, an uphill task awaits Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin as they will play Tokyo Olympics champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan, who defeated Malaysian professionals Goh V Shem-Low Juan Shen 21-14, 21-16.

In women’s doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah survived a scare to edge past Clara Azurmendi-Beatriz Corrales of Spain 22-20, 21-19.

Pearly-Thinaah, seeded eighth in the tournament, will square off against Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi, as the home pair eliminated Nita Violina Marwah-Putri Syaikah, also from Indonesia, 21-11, 21-15.

Other results:

(Note: Malaysians unless stated)

Mixed doubles:

Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing bt Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 22-20, 21-17

Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei bt Yuki Kaneko-Misaki Matsutomo (JPN) 19-21, 21-18, 21-15 — Bernama