Badminton’s world quantity two Lee Zii Jia suffered a shock first-round defeat towards rising Japanese star Kodai Naraoka within the first upset of the season-opening Malaysia Open on Wednesday.
Naraoka, ranked seventh on this planet, downed the Malaysian star 13-21, 21-17, 21-19 in a 73-minute night encounter.
Lee, the reigning Asian champion, was the clear favorite of the house followers, who chanted his title on the Axiata Area in Kuala Lumpur.
The 2 shuttlers had not met earlier than and it was Lee who went on the offensive to take the primary sport.
However Naraoka stormed again to stage the match in a hard-working efficiency after which sealed the victory with superior internet play and by hanging on the proper moments.
“I have given my best but it was not enough. I have to accept this result,” stated Lee, who was enjoying in his first match with no coach.
“That final few points was about being confident, and he had it more than me.”
Lee break up along with his Indonesian former coach Indra Wijaya in November. He stated it wasn’t the identical coaching with no coach and that he must dwell along with his resolution.
A cheerful Naraoka stated of his win: “I tried to be aggressive against him and it worked out.”
World champion Viktor Axelsen will face Malaysia’s Liew Daren within the second spherical on Thursday.
