Zii Jia on a high Down Under, grabs 2nd title in 4 tourneys

Lee Zii Jia took seven points in a row early in the third game against Kodai Naraoka of Japan to snatch the Australian Open singles title in Sydney today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: National singles player Lee Zii Jia clinched the Australian Open badminton championship title today, his second victory in four tournaments.

Zii Jia overcame world No 6 Kodai Naraoka of Japan in three games, 21-19, 11-21, 21-18.

With this win, he has now beaten Naraoka three times in six meetings.

Zii Jia, who is world No 8, had entered three finals in the last four tournaments in as many weeks. He won the Thailand Open championship three weeks ago after beating Hong Kong’s world No 27 Angus Ng.

In the Malaysia Masters final a week later, he lost to world No 1 Viktor Axelsen from Denmark in three games.

In Sydney today, Zii Jia showed his Malaysian supporters he meant business by deploying powerful smashes and accurate placings to take an early 9-5 lead in six minutes and led 11-8 during the breather.

Showing excellent court coverage and engaging Naraoka in long rallies at the base, Zii Jia went on to take the first game 21-19 in 29 minutes despite some good defence play by the Japanese.

In the second game, Naraoka fought for every point and took a 11-6 lead in 12 minutes at the break. After a series of unforced errors by Zii Jia, he won 21-11 in 19 minutes.to force a rubber.

The start of the decider saw Naraoka almost walking through, taking a 5-0 lead in quick succession, but a gritty Zii Jia managed to claw back to grab a 8-7 lead. Naraoka took a 11-10 lead at the break.

The Malaysian rolled off seven straight points after the re-start, and although Naraoke fought back to narrow the deficit at 15-17, Zii Jia took charge after that and won the game at 21-18 to take the title.

Zii Jia pocketed US$31,500 (RM148,725) while Naraoka took home US$15,960 (RM75,354.)