NATIONAL top men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has set up a tantalising All England quarterfinal clash against world no. 2 Kento Momota of Japan.

The defending champion advanced to the last-eight stage after eliminating Canada’s Brian Yang 26-24, 21-11 in the second round at Arena Birmingham yesterday.

Momota, the 2019 champion, entered the quarterfinals by taming Heo Kwang-hee of South Korea 21-16, 21-12, avenging his defeats to the South Korean in the Tokyo Olympics and Thomas Cup last year.

“I know I am playing the same person at the same place I lost last year. However, I am not going to worry about it; I am going to do my best,” Momota said to official media after the match.

The exciting showdown is scheduled for 5pm local time.

Lee has won only twice against Momota in their 10 meetings, with the first coming at the 2021 All England quarterfinals, en route to his maiden major Badminton World Federation (BWF) Tour title.

Mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing also made it into the quarters, edging Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh-Supissara Paewsampran 21-19, 21-17.

However, Malaysia’s top men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik’s hopes of winning their maiden BWF Tour title were again dashed after the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists lost to world no. 19 He Ji Ting-Tan Qiang of China 15-21, 19-21.

2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist Goh Liu Ying’s new partnership with Ong Yew Sin also faced the same fate, as they lost 5-21, 15-21 to second seeds Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong of China in the mixed doubles.

Another mixed doubles pair, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See, were shown the exit by Indonesians Praveen Jordan-Melati Oktavianti, who won 21-16, 21-14.

Liew Daren bowed out after a 21-18, 13-21, 9-21 defeat to Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen in another men’s singles match. – Bernama, March 18, 2022.