An all-Malaysian MS final at the Arctic open brought us the lip-smacking prospect of Spicy Chicken versus the Mushroom – or, for those less versed in Chinese nicknames: LEE Zii Jia against NG Tze Yong. This clash not only promised an enthralling match for the neutral fan but was also an exciting advert for the depth of talent in the Malaysian team. In this high-stakes battle both players needed Gold but only one could stand at the top of the podium when Negaraku played.
2T08EMJ Hangzhou, China’s Zhejiang Province. 5th Oct, 2023. Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia competes against Prannoy Haseena Sunil Kumar of India during the Men’s Singles Quarterfinal of Badminton at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. Credit: Ren Zhenglai/Xinhua/Alamy Live News
The tenacious progress of NTY since his superb performances at the last Commonwealth Games – including his dispatch of Viktor Axelsen at this year’s All England – reveal a player who is poised to challenge the best in the world. In contrast, LZJ has weathered a very up-and-down year and suffered an excess of unnecessary media scrutiny as a result. Nevertheless, he’s in the process of refining his game; cultivating patience and cutting errors. Game on!
Set 1: Advantage Lee Zii Jia 21-14
With a smash speed consistently higher than 410kph LZJ went full throttle courtesy of an unwilling green light from NTY. Tze Yong struggled to contain Zii Jia’s aggressive accuracy and was sucked into a reactive game that stopped him from getting any sort of foothold in the first set. It was all over in 16 minutes.
Set 2
NG Tze Yong found himself bulldozed by the sheer brutality of LEE Zii Jia’s game. Usually, he can remain composed and counter an onslaught but today he struggled for ideas against his compatriot. In the blink of an eye LZJ had charged into a 5-0 lead; he was completely dominant and enjoying the flow of his game. We only saw fleeting glimpses of what NTY is capable of. He fought to claw his way back into the match but could not halt the progress of LEE Zii Jia to a well-deserved Gold 21-15.
LEE Zii Jia came to the match planning to give Ng Tze Yong no chance to breath. It was a tough 39 minutes for NTY but his progress to the final showed his impressive growth. Meanwhile, Lee Zii Jia’s relentless attacking prowess was an exhilarating sight. What an exciting day for fans of the two players.
Edit: The two of them were actually on the podium to Queen’s We Are The Champions. I think the ‘We’ is appropriate!
Fans have been banging the drum about Zii Jia’s potential for years and in 2021 with his triumph at the All England there was a feeling that he had truly cemented his place as one of the best MS in the world. During 2022 the maverick talent that is LEE Zii Jia has been on an intense roller coaster. Supporters have relished sweet victories against a background of severe challenges and ferocious criticism.
2J6ETN3 (220501) — MANILA, May 1, 2022 (Xinhua) — Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia poses for photos during the awarding ceremony for the men’s singles at the Badminton Asia Championships 2022 in Manila, the Philippines, May 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
LZJ is a thrilling athlete to watch on court. His attack-minded approach is electrifying as he has the raw power to overwhelm all but the best defences. His great racket skills allow him to execute the orthodox strokes but also liberate him to use his distinctive shots too. Best known of course is his backhand smash with pirouette. Backhand with added ballet is a showstopper; the velocity that the shuttle attains as it flies cross-court is sensational. It could be risky: he has his back to his opponent, he must regain balance quickly and it goes cross-court, but its effectiveness is obvious. He loves to get angles and pace working to undo adversaries.
His more unorthodox shots are at the heart of his authentic badminton self. His jumping net kill seems an unnecessary use of energy – why jump? But his control at the net can often open up his opportunities to hit hard. His unique style of jump smash really does seem to give him something extra. I spotted he was not fully following through with his racket arm but there is more to his action than that. Some commentators liken it to a volleyball-style spike and there does seem to be similarities in the way that body weight is used to generate power. The bottom line is that the menace and strength he can summon up are fearsome.
He faced a huge risk to his career when he chose to become an independent player. He offered his resignation to BAM in mid-January and sparked a furore that ran out of control and threatened his future in the game. His decision to sever ties with his country’s badminton association initially led to a two-year ban and the prospect of a dazzling career destroyed became real for a time.
Thankfully, after an uncomfortable stalemate, they brokered a compromise, and he continued on his path. It was a bold step that mirrored Viktor Axelsen’s split from Badminton Denmark a few months earlier. Axelsen observed that players must do what is best for themselves. Everyone knows that these two players have been nurtured by their home associations from an early age and it is notable that they are world #1 and #3 with an identical goal of Olympic Gold in Paris 2024.
Fan’s opinions of his best matches invariably highlight Malaysia’s 2022 Thomas Cup campaign. Zii Jia was dynamite in his games. He demolished Momota in ¾ of an hour to lay the foundation for his team to top their group. In the QF against India, Lakshya Sen could not contain him after losing a tight first set and was dispatched in the second. May 2022 saw him hit a purple patch with the Gold medal at the Badminton Asia Championships, and the title at the Thailand Open.
His rivalry with Axelsen often inspires his best performances. At the Indonesia Open this year, his battle with Viktor in the SF is regarded as the game of the tournament. The All England SF in 2020 was a heavy-duty clash over 3 sets in which the Dane eventually won; the return fixture the following year in the 2021 All-England Final was a different story and proved Zii Jia’s progress. An extraordinary first set was secured 30-29, set two lost 20-22 but LZJ won his first Super 1000 title in the third. Attack, stamina, and mental strength got him to the top of the podium. This dual has a way to unfold yet.
He wasn’t at his best at the recent World Championships – citing injury and stress – but there’s no doubt that he will arrive in Europe refreshed and refocused ready to claim more points towards his goal of being World #2 by the end of the year. Planning training sessions with Viktor and Anders Antonsen is a declaration of intent from an ambitious competitor. Provided he is not overburdened by expectations there are no limits to the results his maverick brilliance could achieve. This is a player who can hear history calling.
Can CHEN Long rediscover his mojo and defend his Rio Gold or are we about to see a new player on top of the podium? Will Denmark break the hold that China has had on this competition since Lin Dan first won it in 2008 or can one of the men from Indonesia seize the medal?
Pic from Shutterstock/Hirohito Takada
The competition begins with 14 groups of three players: ONLY group winners will progress to the round of 16 on July 29th.
Kento Momota
It was clear Momota lacked match fitness at this year’s All England so the group games will help him sharpen up. Domination of the net and forecourt blended with lightening speed is crucial to him. He exerts pressure with his great anticipation and is peerless in his match management. He is so good at judging the tipping point in an encounter; usually staying within a couple of points of his rivals score, then switching on his turbocharger and accelerating away to victory. He always has an energy reserve to draw on in the last few points of the final set. It’s arguable that this characteristic breaks the morale of opponents before they even step on court. He remains hot favourite for Gold.
Viktor Axelsen
Viktor was immense in Thailand in January. He created a winning momentum and dispatched rivals at will. His blend of focused power and speed was overwhelming and so the two titles he won had an air of inevitability about them. However he did fall victim to a clever strategy by Antonsen at the WTF so if he wants to upgrade his Bronze from Rio he needs to resist mind games and zero in on the prize. A possible quarter final with Jonatan Christie will be a big test.
Anders Antonsen
Antonsen dreams of Tokyo Gold. His progress over the past couple of years has been impressive – he put down a marker in his victory over Momota at the 2019 Indonesia Masters and has continued to prove his quality in tournaments since. His victory at the Denmark Open 2020 was magnificent but I think his covid-adjusted performance in January’s Thailand bubble was more revealing. A first round exit followed by a SF defeat in two sets suggested he was still suffering from the effects of infection. His victory in the World Tour Finals highlighted his invention and opportunism.
Sun Tzu said “If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him” and AA certainly succeeded in unbalancing Axelsen with his tactics. I’m intrigued to see if he can repeat the feat.
Jonatan Christie
Jojo has a really brutal draw to negotiate if he is to medal in Tokyo but he looked bright and hungry for success at the Simulasi Olimpiade in July so I’m optimistic that he’ll be ready for the battles ahead. His route to the final means that he will probably have to overcome Shi Yu Qi, Viktor Axelsen, and Momota. Anyone who can do that in the space of a few days deserves Gold.
SHI Yu Qi
Shi Yu Qi ‘s form is a bit of a mystery and we are only going to get a clear picture once he steps on court. The last couple of years have been disrupted by injury as well as covid but if he is back to his best then he will be a challenger for a podium place. He has a clash with Jonatan Christie in the Round of 16 and if he progresses then Viktor awaits.
Anthony Ginting
Ginting has so many of the qualities we look for in an Olympic champion. Speed across the court synchronised with breathtaking shots means that he challenges for titles at the highest level. In January in Thailand he dazzled but only in flashes and I was disappointed he didn’t get to a final. There have been times when he has failed to break a rivals impetus; he gets set on a particular strategy and if that starts to fail under pressure he struggles to alter his approach and loses his grip on the game. Commentators have speculated that he would benefit from more stamina but I think it’s more to do with self belief. Anders Antonsen will probably try and block his path to the semi finals; if Anthony can get past the Dane then he has a great chance to impose himself on the competition. Dream Big Anthony!
LEE Zii Jia
About two years ago I remember seeing LEE Chong Wei tip his fellow countryman as a possible prospect for Gold in Tokyo. Since then he triumphed over Viktor Axelsen at the All England 2021 so can take a lot of confidence from beating the world’s best. He has speed, agility, power and a trademark backhand smash, but a tough route to the podium. Feasibly CHEN Long followed by a QF against CHOU Tien Chen. He doesn’t have a good H2H against Chou so this will be a big challenge to negotiate before he can start dreaming of a medal.
CHEN Long
Lee Chong Wei recently observed that it’s impossible to know the kind of form Chen Long is in because he has only competed domestically during the pandemic. I’m unconvinced that CHEN long can defend his Gold from Rio as his form has been so inconsistent following that win. Carolina Marin seems to have coped much better with motivating herself after winning sport’s highest honour. This analysis is probably too simplistic and dismissive though. The resources of the Chinese will have been focused on preparing him for this campaign so we may see a revitalised player on court.
CHOU Tien Chen
Assuming CTC wins his group he will have a bye in the following round and a possible QF against either CHEN Long or LEE Zii Jia. His record against CL is terrible (0-9) but they haven’t met for a couple of years; against LZJ he has the upper hand (5-2) but the Malaysian is improving all the time. CTC is a consistent presence in semi finals but often just seems to lack the resources at the death to finish things off. Taiwan has maintained a good focus on the Olympics including simulations and so the second seed will be well prepared for his second Olympiad.
Predictions
The QF could look at bit like this:
Winner
Momota
V
Ng
Momota
Axelsen
V
Christie
Too close to call
Ginting
V
Antonsen
Ginting
LZJ
v
CTC
CTC
The Semi finals then would probably be Momota against Axelsen/Christie and Antonsen/Ginting clashing with LEE Zii Jia or CHOU Tien Chen. We all know that this tournament has the potential to post some freaky results; the man who adapts quickly to an empty arena and can step away from the shadows of the pandemic will have an advantage. I see Christie and Ginting as dark horses: of course they will have to overcome a substantial Danish challenge first. Always though we circle back to Momota and he must still be the favourite for Gold.
With a sparkling and inventive style, Anthony Ginting is one of the most exciting players to watch on the men’s singles circuit. His creativity magnifies his aggression to give him an irresistable approach to competition.
I often wonder if he ever had gymnastic training in early life. He is very well balanced – great poise, springy feet, so swift around the court – he can reach the furthest corner. Possibly he could do with a little more height (he is 171cm), but he compensates for this lack of reach with his supersonic speed. His rapid reactions let him play at the net one moment, the next, he is smashing from the back trams.
The essence of his style is that he wants to win. All players profit from their rival’s mistakes in a match but I think that his primary strategy is to play to seize the initiative. He has a very courageous approach to his shot selection. The percentage game is not for him. He will go toe-to-toe at the net or aim for the lines. I love his sequence of shots when he traps his opponent into a weak lift from the net and then smashes cross court for the point. He has a very strong ‘flat game’: his drives across the net are so hostile no-one can resist them. They remind me of the approach of the Minions when they start to bombard their foes at the other side of the court. The reverse-slice backhand straight drop that he plays is a jaw dropping thing of beauty that should be commemorated in the Badminton Hall of Fame.
Technically he is a very accomplished player, no surprise given his background in the badminton hotspot of Indonesia. The coaches and other players he works with are among the best in the world. He has the most sublime net skills to enhance his aggressive style: a really lovely touch that can snare his opponent into responding to him with a lift. He can vary the pace of the shuttle at will and this can be shattering to play against. Anticipation is a key part of the game for all elite players. Anthony’s deception skills lead to confusion and delay in response and at this level a split second of lag can mean the difference between winning and losing.
His expert racket skills and instantaneous reactions make him a stellar defender. He will reach the shot and retaliate. This can make for some spectacular high-speed exchanges in his matches. Psychologically it is the antidote to an opponent’s venom because it is difficult to intimidate him.
Gill Clarke wondered aloud on air once whether he ‘needs’ to get a good start in a match to get the win. His offensive style certainly benefits from momentum but I think this would be true of most players.
This terrific match beween Ginting and Momota showed two great players inspiring each other to great play. Video courtesy BWF
It’s impossible to think about Ginting in isolation; his rivalry with Kento Momota has the potential to motivate both of them to glittering heights. There is an frisson of adversarial creativity to their meetings. At the moment Momota has the upper hand but it is only a slight advantage and over the next three or four years I think they could inspire each other to legendary status. The bottom line at the moment is that Anthony makes too many mistakes; Momota realises this and will prolong rallies until the inevitable happens. Of course there are far more subtle elements at play than only this, but here is where the balance of power lies at present. It can change.
His dignified and sporting reaction to his shock loss in the HK Open final – in part due to a shocking umpire decision at match point – shows what a great asset he is to the badminton community. I don’t think he is anywhere near his full potential yet; there’s a lot of sweat and toil on the training courts to come. I’m a huge fan of his and would love to see him become one of the superstars of the game. If he could cut out some of his mistakes without losing his willingness to be brave he will be a major force in the men’s sector in the years ahead.
Men’s Singles is dominated by the majestic Momota; as the tour exchanges Denmark for France we can expect him to overshadow his side of the draw, but aside from him there are stacks of other athletes who could triumph at this competition if they can find consistency alongside skill. The men’s tournament will be full of explosive power, dazzling speed and brilliant shots.
Kento Momota: Unbeatable?
Will anyone ask the imperious Momota a question he cannot answer on court in Paris? This phenomenal player has brushed aside all challenges this year; it’s hard to identify any weakness. This puzzle is intriguing. Other players have better smashes, better endurance and more delicate net play but no other athlete can match his mental strength, consistency and his all round game. He is criticised for being too passive at times but it gets results so he doesn’t have to apologise for that! Often I think he plays at a constant pace (albeit fast) so it would be intriguing if a rival took a more stop/start approach to a match with him to see if it would disrupt his concentration. Prediction: Final (of course).
Antony Ginting: Seeded 8
Ginting is such a wonderful and exasperating player to follow. He’s more of an artist than the majority of the men’s players, his touch and technical skill is a joy to watch. I genuinely feel he could challenge Momota if only he could be more consistent. Crashing out in R1 of the Danish Open is simply unacceptable and yet it was unsurprising. He could meet Momota in the QF and so my prediction is QF exit, probably without his opponents sweaty shirt this time.
One of the best loved players on the circuit, Viktor’s year has been disrupted by injury and his susceptibility to summer allergies. However his performance in his home town of Odense at the Denmark Open saw him returning to his best. Although he lost in the SF to CHEN Long he played well: his smashes were fast and steep, his net shots were intelligent and delicate – it was a close match. He is returning to his best form. The road to the final is a tough one at the bottom half of the draw to include CHOU Tien Chen and Anders Antonsen. Prediction Final. Maybe.
CHOU Tien Chen: The OTHER Great Player From Taiwan
Seeded 2 he has a demanding path to the final but he is a fierce and strong competitor with a great smash. When he won the Indonesian Open against Antonsen he was able to control the net and keep the pressure on without being particularly spectacular in his play. The remarkable thing was his endurance and willingness to give everything for the title. To beat the #1 seed he will have to bring a bit more to the party. Prediction SF.
Clip courtesy of the BWF
CHEN Long: The Defending Champion
CHEN Long’s struggles with motivation since winning Olympic Gold in Rio are well-documented. However, I think this is probably his only weakness. He has the might of the Chinese coaching gang behind him, and a great all-round game where he is able to control the net to force points. His victory over Viktor in Odense seemed to be because he stuck with it, kept the shuttle in play, kept body smashing and seemed able to turn the screw at the last few points of every game. It’s a simple enough strategy that proved to be effective. Prediction SF
Anders Antonsen
Antonsen’s results have been on an upward trajectory over the last few months, he’s aggressive, fast and agile around the court. He was the beaten finalist at the Indonesian Open (to CHOU Tien Chen), the World Championship Final (to Momota) and beaten semi-finalist at the Denmark Open (to Axelsen). There’s no doubt he is a rising star of the men’s game but his physical prowess can be matched by the other seeds so he has to ensure he brings something more to his matches; more strategy and deception allied to his brute power. Prediction QF
Jonatan Christie
If Indonesia is going to win titles in the singles sector then Jojo should be a player who steps up alongside Ginting. Just like Ginting his form ebbs and flows to frustrate his millions of supporters. He’s capable of beating any player in the top ten – including Momota – he needs to exploit his emotions and focus the passion to benefit his superb skills. He could face a double Dane onslaught with possible Antonsen QF and then Axelsen SF: it’s a lot to ask for him to reach the final of this one. Prediction SF.
In Conclusion
Often I seen MS in terms of who, if anyone, is going to upset Momota? Realistically it’s hard to see beyond him. Shi Yuqi is expected to be absent owing to his continued recuperation from ankle injury. If only Ginting or Christie could borrow some of the Minions reliable form then the men’s side of singles could be as open and unpredictable as the womens game. As it is, Momota is in magnificent form, no one is able to unsettle his composure. It looks like this is another tournament waiting for him to win.
Kadang coretan yang ku buat ada maknanya, kadang hanya asal saja suka-suka. Yang jelas, aku senang membuatnya. Terima kasih telah menyempatkan diri melihat-lihat laman ini.
Women's Badminton 