Lee Zii Jia is on the cusp of making his first badminton final of the season, advancing to the semi-finals in a hard-fought match at the BWF Australian Open 2023 in Sydney on August 4th.

The grueling encounter against fellow Malaysian Ng Tze Yong lasted an incredible 83 minutes, with Lee emerging victorious with scores of 17-21, 26-24, 21-19. This victory symbolizes a turnaround for Lee, who has been struggling to find his top form for several months. His determination and timely execution during this week’s matches in Sydney show signs of returning confidence.

Before this tournament, Lee’s performance was marked by four consecutive first-round exits. Now, he finds himself in a promising position in the semi-finals of a BWF World Tour event. He is set to face Weng Hong Yang from the People’s Republic of China, who himself had an impressive win over Chinese Taipei’s fifth seed, Chou Tien-chen, with scores of 21-10, 21-16.

In the other half of the draw, India’s H.S. Prannoy emerged as a strong contender, defeating Indonesia’s top-seeded Anthony Ginting in a three-game thriller. Prannoy will face fellow countryman Priyanshu Rajawat in an all-Indian semi-final, setting up an exciting showdown.

The BWF Australian Open 2023 has thus far provided thrilling games and unexpected outcomes, and the anticipation builds as the tournament heads into its final stages. Fans and enthusiasts are keenly awaiting the semi-finals, where players like Lee Zii Jia will aim to consolidate their comeback in a season marked by intense competition and surprises.