Zii Jia returns to court with Causeway clash at Hylo Open

KUALA LUMPUR: Independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia, having resolved the court case with his family, will face a Causeway tussle at the Hylo Open next week.

Zii Jia will meet Singapore's world No. 33 Jason Teh in Saarbrücken, Germany, when the Super 500 event takes place from Oct 28 to Nov 1.

Surprisingly, Jason beat the Malaysian world No. 42 in their only meeting, in the first round of the 2023 Swiss Open, adding spice to their anticipated clash.

A potential last-16 clash against Japan's world No. 9 Kodai Naraoka and a quarter-final encounter against world No. 6 Jonatan Christie are also on the cards should Zii Jia clear his opening test.

The Malaysian will also be looking to continue his recent resurgence in Europe, where he reached the Arctic Open semi-finals a fortnight ago, his best result since winning the Super 500 Australian Open in 2024.

His fine run at the Super 500 event in Vantaa, Finland, included an upset win over French world No. 3 Christo Popov in the quarter-finals before he lost a three-game battle to eventual champion and Denmark's world No. 2 Anders Antonsen in the semi-finals.

Another independent shuttler, Cheam June Wei, will be hoping to replicate his heroics at the Lin Dan Cup, having won the event five times, at the Hylo Open.

World No. 58 June Wei will face Kiran George in the first round, with the Indian shuttler holding a 1-0 head-to-head record.

June Wei suffered a humbling second-round exit at the Malaysia Super 100 in Iskandar Puteri, Johor last week.

Meanwhile, rising pair Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King will continue their search for success, hoping to capitalise on the absence of the top six pairs at the Hylo Open.

World No. 95 Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King, who won the Arctic Open on their debut, will begin their campaign against Germany's world No. 65 Malik Bourakkadi-Kenneth Nuemann before a potentially crucial last-16 test against the top seeds, world No. 7 Sabar Karyaman-Moh Reza Isfahani.

Independent world No. 49 Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi are the other Malaysian men's pair competing in Germany. They will take on England's world No. 8 Ben Lane-Sean Vendy.