Malaysia Open: Lee Holds Nerve to Halt Christo
Lee Cheuk Yiu dug deep to edge HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2025 champion Christo Popov in a pulsating 74-minute battle that went down to the very last shuttle at PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2026.
· PREM KUMAR
Playing their first match since March 2024, the Hong Kong China shuttler overturned a tough start to prevail 13-21 21-19 23-21.
Popov, sharper and confident following a stellar run in Hangzhou two weeks ago, appeared to have the upper hand early, taking the opening game and pressing again in the decider. Then, standing on the brink at 19-17, came the calm Lee has been chasing for years.
He reeled Popov back in, levelled at 19-all, saved match point and finally pipped the Frenchman with ice-cold execution.