KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian badminton's blue-eyed boy Lee Zii Jia checked into the second round of the Malaysia Masters on Wednesday.
The world No. 10 men's singles player avoided a first-round banana skin at the Axiata Arena, when clawed back from a game down to see off China's Zhao Jun Peng 19-21, 21-11, 21-14.
Fresh from winning the Thailand Open last week, Zii Jia will play India's Kiran George next for a place in Friday's quarter-finals.
World No. 36 Kiran downed Japan's Takuma Obayashi 21-16, 21-17.
Earlier, Leong Jun Hao also secured a second-round spot after seeing off China's Lei Lan Xi 13-21, 23-21, 21-12.
The former Asian junior champion will take on reigning Asian Games champion Li Shi Feng on Thursday.