KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia gave Malaysian fans plenty to cheer about after clinching bronze - the country's second medal of the games - at the Paris Olympics today.
Zii Jia looked set for a quick defeat in his men's singles bronze medal match against India's Lakshya Sen as the latter came out strong at Porte de La Chapelle Arena and won the opening game relatively easily.
But Zii Jia began to find his range in the middle of the second game which appeared to rattle Lakshya's confidence and the latter was not helped by an injury to his right arm, which had to be bandaged.
Zii Jia was able to carry his momentum until the end of the match and secure a 13-21, 21-16, 21-11 win.
He is only the third Malaysian player to win a men's singles medal at the Olympics after Datuk Rashid Sidek (bronze, 1996) and Datuk Lee Chong Wei (silver 2008, 2012, 2016).
Malaysia has now won two bronze medals at the Paris games. Men's doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik delivered the first bronze yesterday.
Early this morning, road cyclist Nur Aisyah Zubir was forced to drop out of the women's road race after suffering cramps in both her legs at roughly 114 kilometres into the 158km race.
Aisyah had, nevertheless, created history as no Malaysian woman had competed in an Olympic road race prior to this.
In sailing, Nur Shazrin Latif placed 33rd from 43 sailors in the ninth race of the women's dinghy event at the Marseille Marina. Race 10 has yet to conclude as of writing.
Khairunizam Mohd Afendy will compete in race nine and 10 of the men's dinghy event later today.
No Malaysian athletes are scheduled to compete tomorrow.
Weightlifter Aniq Kasdan, diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri, golfer Ashley Lau as well as well as track cyclists Azizulhasni Awang, Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Izzah Izzati Asri are set to begin their campaigns in Paris on Wednesday.
Results
Badminton
Men's singles, bronze medal match: Lee Zii Jia def Lakshya Sen (Ind) 13-21, 21-16, 21-11
Cycling
Women's road race: Nur Aisyah Zubir, DNF
Sailing
Women's dinghy: Nur Shazrin Latif - race 9 (No. 33)