Lee Zii Jia Wins Thailand Open 2024 – “Malaysia Boleh!”
Source: Instagram | @thesharulcanna
Malaysia’s top men’s singles badminton player, Lee Zii Jia, has brought joy to the nation by reclaiming the Thailand Open trophy, which he last won in 2022.
According to Harian Metro, Zii Jia, currently ranked 10th in the world, started strong and dominated the match against Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long, winning 21-11, 21-10 in the final held at Nimibutr Stadium, Bangkok.
The 26-year-old Kedah native displayed aggressive and cautious play from the start, securing victory in just 15 minutes for the first set and maintaining his momentum in the second set.
This Super 500 level tournament saw the head-to-head record between the two players tied at 4-4 after eight encounters.
This victory is a significant boost for Zii Jia as he prepares to compete on home ground at the Axiata Arena in the Malaysia Masters, starting next Tuesday.
This is Zii Jia’s first title of the year as he gears up for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Earlier this year, his best achievements included reaching the quarter-finals at the India Open, Indonesia Masters, All England, and the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC).
Zii Jia celebrated his win by placing his index finger on his lips and took home a cash prize of USD 31,500 (RM 147,640), while Ka Long, the runner-up, received USD 15,960 (RM 74,804).
This victory marks Zii Jia’s second Thailand Open title, following his win in the 2022 edition.
