Zii Jia kickstarts his US Open campaign with a confident straight-games victory over Vietnam’s top challenger in Fullerton.
Malaysia Badminton News confirms the independent star needed just 40 minutes to seal the 21-15, 21-17 scoreline.
He outclassed world No. 32 Nguyen Hai Dang at the Titan Gymnasium.
SmashNews reports that this victory provides a crucial morale boost after his recent early exits in Asia.
The former All England champion looked highly composed under the pressure of the North American crowd.
Steady Progress in the US Open campaign Roster
The Malaysian favorite now prepares for a potentially blockbuster second-round clash on Thursday.
He will face either former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth of India or Saneeth Dayanand.
Meanwhile, compatriot Cheam June Wei also booked his spot in the last sixteen.
The 29-year-old defeated Taiwan’s Ting Yen-chen 21-18, 21-18 in a highly contested match.
Smashnews understands that June Wei will next face Israel’s Misha Zilberman for a quarter-final berth.
Both Malaysian singles players are displaying elite shuttlecock mastery during this overseas campaign.
Success in California is vital for restoring their positions in the global world rankings.
The national camp expects consistent athletic performance as the knockout stages approach.
A proud nation continues to support their independent stars on this long road to redemption.