Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024: Zii Jia, Sindhu win as Loh exits

The Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 on Wednesday saw Lee Zii Jia and PV Sindhu win, while Loh Kean Yew made an early exit.

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Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia, in gray shirt, returns a shot in his match on Wednesday. Day one of the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 saw Zii Jia and India's PV Sindhu win

KUMAMOTO MASTERS JAPAN 2024 SAW ZII JIA ESCAPE UPSET AGAINST HOH

The Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 saw Zii Jia escape the upset axe in his opening-round match against Justin Hoh.

Furthermore, Malaysia’s world No.7 held off a tough challenge provided by world No.50 Hoh to pull off a 21-16, 12-21, 21-17 victory.

Moreover, Zii Jia needed all of 62 minutes and the full three sets after Hoh forced a decider with an impressive second-set performance.

It was Zii Jia’s first match since sustaining an ankle injury in the Arctic Open quarterfinals in Finland last month.

That injury forced the Malaysian shuttler to skip the Denmark Open, as Zii Jia next faces Japanese Koo Takahashi or Su Li Yang of Chinese Taipei.

SINDHU CRUISES TO WIN OVER THAI RIVAL

Moreover, Sindhu cruised to a 21-12, 21-18 victory over Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.

India’s world No.20 needed only 38 minutes to oust Busanan and advance into the next round.

Sindhu started slowly with a 1-5 deficit before recovering to take an 11-10 edge en route to taking the opening set.

The Indian shuttler raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set before taking 11 of the last 12 points to finish off her Thai opponent.

Meanwhile, SIndhu’s compatriot Lakhysa Sen was not as lucky.

He absorbed a 22-20, 17-21, 16-21 loss to Malaysian Leong Jun Hao.

LOH EXITS AFTER LOSING TO CHINESE OPPONENT

Furthermore, Loh exited early after losing to his Chinese opponent.

Moreover, the Singaporean shuttler suffered a 21-19, 21-19 loss to Lei Lan Xi.

Loh took a 4-3 edge early in the opening set before Lei took over.

China’s world No.28 roared to a 10-4 lead in the second set.

The Singaporean shuttler had to play catch up.

Loh managed to tie the match at 19-all.

But Lei took the final two points of the match to seal the deal.