KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia failed to spark in his defeat to World No 6 Son Wan Ho at the Korea Masters final in Gwanju on Sunday.
Zii Jia was hoping to cause an upset but found his Korean rival too hot to handle as the World No 60 lost 21-16, 21-11 in 36 minutes.
However, credit to Zii Jia for fighthing bravely in his first tournament from a back injury after he won the Taiwan Open in October.
“It’s not easy to play against Wan Ho but I learned new things today. I still have a long way to go and despite not winning, it’s still an accomplishment and a great year-ender for me.
“Now, I want to go home and rest. After this I will be back to prep for next year’s competitions.
“I would like to thank my family, coach and everyone who have been supporting my career.
“I will work hard for next year’s assignments,” said the Kedah-born.
Zii Jia is seen as Malaysia’s new hope in men’s singles. Many believe he has the ability to perform consistently unlike some of his peers and can go far.