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Zii Jia beats Popov to enter Olympics quarter-finals

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The Malaysian singles shuttler prevails 21-13, 24-22 after Toma Junior Popov, fired up by the home crowd, gave him a fright in the second game.

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Lee Zii Jia
Lee Zii Jia, the world No 3, did not have it easy although he breezed through the first game against Frenchman Toma Junior Popov. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:
National singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia kept his dreams of winning an Olympic medal alive by defeating Frenchman Toma Junior Popov, despite having to battle a vociferous home crowd at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena in Paris.

With this win, Zii Jia has qualified for the quarter-finals of the singles event after winning 21-13, 24-22 in 40 minutes.

Although Zii Jia wrapped up the first game in 14 minutes, the world No 3 did not have it easy in the second game as he had to bring out his best in facing the noisy supporters who cheered Popov on.

The second game saw Popov making a strong fightback, even taking the lead at 13-11 at one point, but Zii Jia managed to level the score and take a 15-14 lead. Even so, the Frenchman clawed back to regain the lead at 17-15.

Again, Zii Jia levelled the score at 17-17 despite the stadium erupting with chants of  “Tommy, Tommy” to spur their hero. Zii Jia eventually went on to win 24-22, but not before being given a fright by the Frenchman.

Popov, ranked No 22 in the world, had entered the court with much confidence after beating world No 9 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia 21-19, 17-21, 21-15 in the last group stage match yesterday.

Zii Jia has now beaten Popov in all five meetings.

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