Zii Jia faces Kanta test in BAC quarter-finals |

KUALA LUMPUR: World No 7 Lee Zii Jia will seek to edge closer in his bid to become an Asian champion when he takes on Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama in the last eight of the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Manila today.

Zii Jia, who is making his debut in the continental flagship event, continued his march after eliminating Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren Rhustavito 21-14, 22-20 in the second round on Thursday.

A win today will see him face second seed Anthony Ginting or Korea Open champion Weng Hong Yang in the last four.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medallists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and mixed doubles Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing were the other victors of the day.

Aaron-Wooi Yik powered past Danny Bawa Chrisnanta-Andy Kwek 21-16, 21-19 in just 25 minutes to set up a fourth meeting with India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty.

Aaron-Wooi Yik, who are bidding to improve on their quarter-final outing in Wuhan three years ago, will fancy their chances against the Indians as they had never lost to them before.

Pearly-Thinaah will take on former world champions Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota of Japan next after a 21-13, 23-21 win over Hong Kong’s Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam.

Korea Open winners Kian Meng-Pei Jing are also through after facing little resistance in overcoming India’s Ishaan Bhatnagar-Tanisha Crasto of 21-18, 21-18.

They face their first real test against Japan’s Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino today.