Malaysia’s gallant run at the Korea Open in Incheon came to a halt after Lee Zii Jia and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were defeated in the quarter-final stage.

Rampaging world No. 16 Zii Jia put up his best display to date against reigning world champion, Kento Momota but came up short in a close 15-21 19-21 encounter.

Coming off on the back of morale-boosting win over former world No. 1, Viktor Axelsen in the second round, Zii Jia didn’t throw in the towel against the imperious Momota. 

The Kedah-born lad was even in the lead 14-10 but just couldn’t find the killer-instinct to finish off the match.

In the men’s doubles, Sze Fei-Izzuddin  fought hard but lost out on crucial points against South Korea’s Choi Solgyu-Seo Seung Jae in an 18-21 21-18 18-21 defeat.

PHOTO CREDIT: Badmintonphoto