All England: Lee in Axelsen’s Way
Lee Zii Jia’s rebound from a disappointing early season saw him achieve his biggest moment so far – a place in the final of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships 2021 – the furthest he has gone at a…
· DEV SUKUMAR
Lee Zii Jia’s rebound from a disappointing early season saw him achieve his biggest moment so far – a place in the final of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships 2021 – the furthest he has gone at a major tournament.
The Malaysian’s showing, which improved upon his semifinal placing at the same event last year, came with a 21-13 21-17 defeat of Dutchman Mark Caljouw. But Lee faces a formidable challenge in the final, in the form of defending champion Viktor Axelsen, who entered his seventh straight final.
Lee, seeking to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot and four-time All England winner Lee Chong Wei, had few problems today against Caljouw. He steamed off to a strong start, and while Caljouw did stick in the contest in the second game, the Malaysian had too many weapons for his opponent.