BANGKOK, May 13– Independent Malaysian singles shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei both suffered early exits from the Thailand Open 2026 after losing their respective first-round matches at Nimibutr Stadium.
Zii Jia, the former Asian champion, who had progressed through the qualifying rounds yesterday, failed to reproduce the impressive form he displayed during the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark, after going down 20-22, 10-21 to Israeli qualifier Daniil Dubovenko.
The former Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist started brightly and held two game points at 20-18 in the opening game, but was unable to capitalise as Daniil fought back to snatch the first game.
In the second game, Zii Jia struggled to find his rhythm and trailed 2-11 at the interval before Daniil wrapped up the match 21-10 in 38 minutes.
Fellow Malaysian Goh Jin Wei also saw her campaign come to an early end after putting up a spirited fight against promising young Thai shuttler Yataweemin Ketklieng.
Jin Wei, who captured the Singapore International Challenge title in March, lost 21-13, 19-21, 16-21 to the Thai player in a one-hour contest.
Malaysia’s independent mixed doubles pair Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien also bowed out in the opening round after losing to China’s Gao Jia Xuan-Wei Ya Xin 12-21, 15-21.
Earlier, tournament top seed and world number one men’s singles Shi Yuqi of China defeated Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 21-12, 21-17 to progress to the second round.
Home favourite and second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn also booked his place in the next round after overcoming Japan’s Yudai Okimoto 21-16, 21-12.
Japan’s top women’s singles player, Akane Yamaguchi, also advanced after beating China’s Han Qian Xi 21-17, 21-15.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s top-seeded mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran were pushed to the limit by Indonesia’s Adnan Maulana-Indah Cahya Sari Jamil before prevailing 21-11, 20-22, 21-18 in a one-hour encounter.
— BERNAMA
