THE STAR


 

PETALING JAYA: National No. 1 men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia suffered a shock first-round exit from the Japan Open in Osaka, losing to India's K. Srikanth on Wednesday (Aug 31).

The world No. 4 was edged 20-22, 21-23 by the world No. 14 in 38 minutes.

The defeat added to Zii Jia's woes after he saw his dream of becoming a world champion ended in Tokyo in the third round recently.

Meanwhile, independent mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing brought some cheer to the Malaysian camp when they beat compatriots Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See 21-10, 21-14 to march into the second round.

Kian Meng-Pei Jing will next take on Taiwan's Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang for a place in the quarter-finals.