( Lee Zii Jia)
Speed Post News Network
Patna : Sixth seed & World No 10 Lee Zii Jia, 22, Malaysia, battled past 2nd seed & defending champion Viktor Axelsen, 27, Denmark, in a three-game thriller in final on March 21, 2021, to lift the men’s singles title at Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships, an HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1,000 event, at Birmingham, England, capping his sensational run in the tournament. Lee had stunned top seed & World No 1 Kento Momota, Japan, in quarter-finals.
Lee upset World No 2 & and 2017 World Champion Axelsen in a thard fought battle 30-29, 20-22, 21-9 in final in 74 minutes. Lee won the first game in a see-saw battle lasting 34 minutes. Axelsen fought back to win the second game. But, Lee was all over Axelsen in the third game winning it 21-9. Lee won 71 rallies in the match to 60 by Axelsen. The Mayasian won 7 consecutive points innthe match to 5 by the Dane. Axelsen, however, still leads Lee 3-2 Head to Head.
Lee secured 12,000 BWI Rankings points plus $59,500 prize money. Runner-up bagged 10,200 Rankings points plus $28,900 prize money. The win will improve the BWI Ranking of Le.