Indonesian Masters 2024: Loh Kean Yew and Lee Zii Jia Bow Out in Quarters
Conor Hudson
Mon Jan 29 2024
The Indonesian Masters 2024 badminton tournament witnessed the elimination of two prominent players, Loh Kean Yew and Lee Zii Jia, in the men's singles quarter-finals. The matches showcased intense competition and remarkable performances from their opponents.
In a thrilling quarter-final match, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia defeated former world champion Loh Kean Yew from Singapore with a score of 21-17, 21-19. Ginting expressed his admiration for Loh's impressive gameplay but credited his victory to his coach's joy. Ginting's win secured him a spot in the semi-finals where he would face Canadian talent Brian Yang, currently ranked 24th globally.
Lee Zii Jia, the hopeful local player, faced disappointment as he was defeated by Brian Yang from Canada in the quarter-finals. Yang had already made headlines by eliminating the defending Asian Games champion Li Shifeng of China in the earlier rounds. In a dominant display, Yang defeated Lee Zii Jia with a score of 21-14 in the first set. The Malaysian player appeared uncomfortable and weak, leading him to concede the match before the start of the second set due to food poisoning.
The men's singles quarter-finals also witnessed Kiran George of India, ranked 36th in the world, losing to the current world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand with a score of 21-14, 21-6. Despite a promising start with an 11-8 lead, George couldn't match the pace set by the ninth-ranked player.
In the women's singles category, there were surprising outcomes as the 13th-ranked player Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand suffered defeat against Japan's Natsuki Nidaira, ranked 34th globally, with a score of 16-21, 12-21. The host country's rising star, seventh-seeded Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, also suffered an unexpected loss to Nozomi Okuhara from Japan, with a score of 20-22, 11-21. Okuhara explained her victory by stating that she was quicker and read her opponent's shots well. She attributed her success partially to a Japanese dish called katsudon that she had consumed, believing it brought her luck.
The Indonesian Masters 2024 proved to be an event filled with surprises and high-level performances. The elimination of Loh Kean Yew, Lee Zii Jia, and other notable players adds excitement and unpredictability to the rest of the tournament. Badminton enthusiasts around the world eagerly wait to see who will emerge as the champions in this thrilling competition.