KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Zii Jia captured the All England crown today with a rousing 30-29, 20-22, 21-9 win over Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles final at Arena Birmingham.
The World No 10 is also the first Malaysian to win the prestigious title after Lee Chong Wei in 2017.
The 23-year-old Kedah-born shuttler joined the likes of Wong Peng Soon, Eddie Choong, Tan Aik Huang, Hafiz Hashim and Chong Wei to win the All England title.
It was also sweet revenge for Zii Jia, who was dumped by Axelsen in the semi-finals of last year’s All England.
Today’s triumph also made up for Zii Jia’s disappointing results in the Asian leg of the World Tour in Bangkok in January.
Former World No. 1 Chong Wei has tipped Zii Jia to be a medal contender at the Olympics if he reproduces his All England form in Tokyo four months from now.- NST