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Defending champ Zii Jia bows out at All-England semifinal

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The 24-year-old world number seven lost to Indian ace Lakshya Sen 13-21, 21-12, 19-21.

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Defending champion Lee Zii Jia was beaten 13-21, 21-12, 19-21 by India’s Lakshya Sen in the All-England semifinal.

PETALING JAYA:
Defending champion Lee Zii Jia failed to make it to the final of the All-England badminton championship in Birmingham, England after he lost to Indian champion Lakshya Sen in three hard-fought games.

After losing the first game 13-21, the Malaysian national champion regained his composure and led from the beginning in the second game, returning many shots that appeared impossible to return at times.

With a large group of Malaysian supporters cheering him on, he won easily 21-12, in a game filled with some long rallies to force a rubber.

After the breather, Zii Jia started nervously losing two straight points. However, he stopped Lakshya in his tracks and raced to a 4-3 lead within five minutes. Both players were then engaged in a point for point battle.

After 10 minutes of the rubber, the players were tied at 8-8, with both making unforced errors. Zii Jia, who left the Badminton Association of Malaysia to go professional in January, then took the lead at 11-9.

After the changeover, Zii Jia raced to a 16-13 lead five minutes into play.

The ding-dong battle continued until they reached 18-18 but Lakshya changed the pace to win 21-19.

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