BWF Australian Open 2024: Lee Zii Jia outlasts Naraoka Kodai to ...

Lee Zii Jia came through an epic against Naraoka Kodai in the final of the BWF Australian Open 2024 in Sydney on Sunday (16 June) to clinch his second title of the season.

The third seed from Malaysia needed an hour and 18 minutes to come out on top, winning 21-19, 11-21, 21-18, having won last month’s Thailand Open.

Lee trailed 3-2 in the head-to-head going into this encounter although he had won their last meeting at March’s All England Open. And long, gruelling rallies were the order of the day in the first game with Naraoka showing good defence to retrieve Lee’s powerful smashes.

The Malaysian badminton star won four consecutive points from 15-14 to take control of the opener, but Naraoka saved four game points as both players – clearly tired from their exertions – avoided attempting aggressive shots. Lee eventually secured it 21-19 in 29 minutes.

Despite being best known for his defensive prowess, Naraoka was unafraid to attack in the second game. Lee made a number of errors as the Japanese led 11-6 at the mid-game interval which he converted into a convincing 21-11 margin.

Back to the ends from which Lee took the first game, Naraoka was moving his opponent around the court at will as he raced into a 5-0 lead. Lee recovered his focus and fought back to go 8-7 in front, but it was Naraoka who led 11-10 at the changeover.

Then came a spectacular passage of play from Lee as he controlled the tempo and won the next six points without reply. Naraoka took a medical timeout but Lee won the point after play resumed to go 17-11 in front. There was one last twist as the second seed took seven of the next eight points to draw level, but Lee won a superb next rally to go back in front. And two missed overheads from Naraoka saw Lee secure multiple titles in a calendar year for the first time in his career.

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Earlier, Ohori Aya collected the biggest title of her career as she defeated Indonesian teenager Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo 21-16 in the women’s singles final decider.

Wardoyo took the opener and led 15-12 in the second, but the 27-year-old Japanese left-hander upped her aggressive intent to take it 21-19. After leading 7-2 in the third, Ohori took an 11-6 advantage into the changeover. The 18-year-old closed to 16-18, but the second seed reeled off the next three points to add to her Thailand Masters triumph in February.

Top seeds Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin of People’s Republic of China won the mixed doubles final, beating compatriots Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui in three games.

The women’s doubles final also went the distance with Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi getting the better of Malaysian pair Lai Pei Jing and Lim Chiew Sien 21-13 in the third.

China made it two titles on the day in the men’s doubles final as top seeds He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu defeated Indonesia’s ‘Daddies’ Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan 21-11, 21-10 in just 28 minutes. He and Ren did not drop a game all week as they secured a third title of 2024.

BWF Australian Open finals results, 16 June 2024: Mixed doubles

[1] Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin (CHN) def. [7] Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui (CHN) 21-12, 16-21, 21-12

Women's singles

[2] Ohori Aya (JPN) def. [7] Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo (INA) 17-21, 21-19, 21-16

Women's doubles

Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi (INA) def. Lai Pei Jing/Lim Chiew Sien (MAS) 12-21, 21-7, 21-13

Men's singles

[3] Lee Zii Jia (MAS) def. [2] Naraoka Kodai (JPN) 21-19, 11-21, 21-18

Men's doubles

[1] He Jiting/Ren Xiangyu (CHN) def. [2] Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan (INA) 21-11, 21-10

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