KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — National men’s professional player Lee Zii Jia breezed into the second round of the 2024 Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Ningbo, China today.

The 2022 BAC champion started on the right footing when he easily defeated India’s Priyanshu Rajawat 21-9, 21-13 in the opening round at the Ningbo Olympics Sports Centre gymnasium.

The eighth-seeded Zii Jia will next meet Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen, who also had an easy passage in the first round when China’s Weng Hong Yang retired after losing 16-21 in the first game.

Zii Jia has won only three of his eight previous encounters with the world number 15 Tien Chen.

Zii Jia won the 2022 BAC title in Manila after beating Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 21-17, 23-21 in the final.

National professional women’s pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien were sent packing early when they went down to South Korea’s Jeong Na Eun-Kim Hye Jeong 11-21, 10-21.

Other Malaysian representatives are scheduled to play their matches later today. — Bernama