# Malaysian upset Frenchman and third seed Leverdez to make the semis
# New pair V Shem–Ee Yi fall to Indonesians in quarter-finals
Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia came back from a game down to upset third seed Brice Leverdez of France to reach the semi-finals in the USD120,000 Bitburger Badminton Open Grand Prix in Saarlandhalle, Germany on Friday.
The 19-year Zii Jia, ranked No 55 in the world, prevailed 19-21, 21-18, 21-10 in 63 minutes and will meet Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in the semi-finals on Saturday. The Frenchman, ranked 33, is best remembered for showing Lee Chong Wei the exit in the first round in the World Championships in Glasgow in August.
Gemke ousted Brazil’s Ygor Coelho also in a three-game thriller 21-12, 15-21, 21-12.
This is the second time Zii Jia will meet Gemke in a tournament and the Dane, ranked 60, won his only previous match against Zii Jia, beating the Malaysian 23-21, 21-12 in last year’s Yonex Belgian International.
While Zii Jia celebrated it was the end of Malaysia’s newly formed pair Goh V Shem-Teo Ee Yi in the men’s doubles. They Malaysians lost to fourth seeds Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto 12-21, 15-21 in 27 minutes.
At the French Open in Paris last week the Malaysians failed to go beyond the second round and reaching the quarter-finals in the Bitburger Open is itself an achievement.
Another scratch Malaysian pair Ong Yew Sin-Tan Wee Kiong played second seeds Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarups Rasmussen, currently ranked 15 in the world, in a late match.BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS (Selected)
Men’s singles
Lee Zii Jia (Mas) beat Brice Leverdez (Fra) 19-21, 21-18, 21-10
Rasmus Gemke (Den) beat Ygor Coelho (Bra) 21-12, 15-21, 21-12
Men’s Doubles
Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Ina) beat Goh V Shem-Teo Ee Yi (Mas) 21-12, 21-15
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