Indonesia Masters: Lee Zii Jia and Loh Kean Yew Advance to Quarterfinals
Ashley
Mon Jan 29 2024
The Indonesia Masters 2024 badminton tournament has witnessed the impressive performances of Lee Zii Jia and Loh Kean Yew, as both players have advanced to the quarterfinals. After a disappointing early exit at the Malaysia Open, Lee Zii Jia has shown great resilience by reaching the round of 8 at the India Open and now the Indonesia Masters. On the other hand, Singapore's World Champion of 2021, Loh Kean Yew, has also made it to the quarterfinals, setting up an exciting match against Indonesian seed Anthony Ginting.
Lee Zii Jia faced a close battle against Ng Ka Long Angus from Hong Kong China in the first thrilling game. Although Ng Ka Long Angus had the lead for most of the time, Lee Zii Jia managed to catch up at 16-15 before securing the last two points from a 20-20 tie. In a 46-minute match, Lee Zii Jia emerged victorious, winning 22-20 and 21-15. He will now face Canadian talent Brian Yang, who defeated second seed Li Shifeng in the first round.
Loh Kean Yew, the 12th-ranked player in the world, has also made an impressive run in this season. He comfortably defeated Su Li-Yang from Chinese Taipei in straight sets, winning 21-11 and 21-16 in just 43 minutes. After easily taking the first game, Loh Kean Yew faced a tougher challenge in the second game but maintained his composure and control over Su Li-Yang to clinch the victory.
In the men's singles category, defending world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand defeated Chou Tien Chen from Chinese Taipei 21-14 and 21-9 to secure his spot in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Kiran George from India, ranked 36th in the world, caused an upset by eliminating the 18th-ranked Lu Guang Zu from China with a score of 21-11, 13-21, 21-18. Kiran George, who will be playing his second quarterfinal match, expressed his excitement and eagerness to play in front of the Jakarta crowd.
As for the women's singles, no surprises were seen in the second round. Former world number one Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand showed satisfaction with her ability to stay calm during her victory over the 9th-ranked Beiwen Zhang from the United States. Ratchanok Intanon won 21-11, 8-21, and 21-14, saying that she did not think about winning the match when she had match point, but rather focused on resetting her points after each score.
Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, an Indonesian player, aims to use her experience to help her younger compatriot, Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo, after their match ended with a score of 21-5 and 21-11. Tunjung found it challenging to compete against her teammate and will have a conversation with Wardoyo about staying calm and composed in such situations.
The Indonesia Masters 2024 has witnessed some thrilling matches and surprising results so far. Lee Zii Jia and Loh Kean Yew's impressive performances in the men's singles category have earned them a spot in the quarterfinals. With high-stakes matches and fierce competition ahead, badminton fans can expect an exciting tournament in Jakarta.