Much has occurred in Lee Zii Jia’s life because the final time he performed Lakshya Sen in a 11-13, 11-3, 1-6, 11-6 loss in 2016’s experimental format. He turned All England champion in 2021, beating Kento Momota in quarters. Then he performed a rollicking 30-29 first set in opposition to Viktor Axelsen, misplaced the subsequent 20-22, earlier than squishing Axelsen 21-9 to win the title.
So Sen successfully stands within the path of the Malaysian’s title protection.
Lee comes into the semis on the again of one other win over Kento Momota within the quarters final evening. It wasn’t a fair match although it hit the decider. Lee was in bruising contact, within the two units he received – first and third. It’s the kind of brandishing assault that may go away defensive video games quivering on the unfairness of what velocity can do single footedly with a pouncing stride or single handedly with a pounding of a internet rush.
Lee offers within the third gear, the kind of velocity that makes you search for ‘fast twitch fibres’ and surprise if it’s all that basically mobile. He trades pugilist’s flurries with Loh Kean Yew, one other velocity demon. He is the uncrowned inheritor of Lee Chong Wei in Malaysia, and spent the winter negotiating for himself the correct to function out of the Malaysian nationwide coaching system. Prevailing too.
A FRIDAY THRILLER 😱
This one had a little bit of all the things. Lee Zii Jia beats Kento Momota to achieve the semi-finals. 21-7 13-21 21-11. Wow.#YAE22 pic.twitter.com/ASndwEK2Dc
— 🏆 Yonex All England Badminton Championships 🏆 (@YonexAllEngland) March 18, 2022
That he can trouble Axelsen and has dumped out Momota twice in two years at Birmingham means his frenetic buzz bothers opponents. Yet, Chen Long, the presiding royalty of Steady, took him out on the Olympics with some usually pugnacious Chinese bullheadedness.
That he thumped Momota – and that was some assault on both aspect of a mid-set breather – isn’t solely stunning, although it’s ominous for Sen.
Like Kunlavut Vitidsarn final Sunday on the German, Lee’s velocity can throw Sen off the rails. He certain will come tactically ready and had a relaxation day to prop him up additional, however Lee received’t give him time to assume. The Indian’s energies will likely be consumed in chasing down returns coming at a quick clip, and Sen will want his outrageous protection and the web to return into play if he doesn’t wish to be swept apart.
As such, Sen performs an analogous sport to Lee, the gears crank up roughly at completely different occasions. But Lee has the velocity benefit. And fewer of Loh Kean Yew’s adventurous streaks and tactically naive outbursts. He usually out-Srikanths Srikanth, when the Indian isn’t at his trickiest. Sen will want the composure of the India Open remaining, however at a 2X gust.