Malaysian men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia faced a tough return to competitive badminton after a five-month break, exiting in the first round of the Hong Kong Open following a defeat to compatriot Leong Jun Hao.
Coming back from an ankle injury, Zii Jia, now ranked 48th in the world, struggled with unforced errors as world No. 26 Jun Hao dominated the 40-minute match, winning 21-16, 21-16.
Jun Hao will advance to face the winner of the clash between Malaysia’s Justin Hoh and world No. 8 Tomo Junior Popov from France in the second round.
Zii Jia appeared cautious throughout the match, likely trying to protect his recovering ankle, similar to his approach during the World Championships opener two weeks ago.
The two Malaysian shuttlers have now met four times in their careers, with Zii Jia claiming victory in two encounters back in 2023.
