Lee Zii Jia Bows Out Of Olympics Debut After Losing To Chen Long In 3-Set Match
Malaysia was unable to overcome a familiar foe at Tokyo 2020.
By Ahmad Hamizan @ Mike Miz — 29 Jul 2021, 09:17 PM — Updated over 3 years ago
Rising star Lee Zii Jia faced off against Chen Long of China in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics' badminton men's singles Round of 16, going down in three sets
In the last game of the day at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo today, 29 July, Lee had fought bravely against his much fancied opponent.
The Malaysian had taken the first set comfortably against the reigning Olympics champion, winning 21-8
In a closely contested second game, the two played some scintillating badminton, but it was Chen who edged it 21-19.
However, from then on, Chen – the bane of Lee Chong Wei at Rio 2016 in the final – asserted himself, winning the last set 21-5.
After a dominant group stage display – where he had not dropped a single set over two games – the world number eight will take heart at what is his first Olympics appearance
Malaysia's Badminton medal hopes at Tokyo 2020 will now fall solely onto the men's doubles pairing of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who had earlier today defeated the world number one team from Indonesia to advance to the semi-finals.
