Indonesia Masters: Angus Ng Ka-long snatches spot in quarter-finals with comeback win
- Men’s singles star Ng comes out on top in hard-fought 65-minute battle against second seed Lee Zii Jia
- Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet bow out at first hurdle in mixed doubles, and are yet to make it past second round in three 2023 tournaments
Hong Kong badminton star Angus Ng Ka-long came back from behind to snatch a spot in the quarter-finals at the Indonesia Masters, after a hard-fought 65-minute battle against second seed Lee Zii Jia.
The 28-year-old Ng – who had split his two previous career meetings with the world No 4 - had a good start in the opening set of the second-round encounter at the Super 500 Series event.
The Hongkonger was leading 15-11 before the reigning Asian champion stormed back from behind with a 10-1 run of points to steal the set right under Ng’s nose.
World No 18 Ng - who dispatched Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei 21-6, 21-15 in the previous round in just 30 minutes - for his first win of 2023 – was in control in the following set.
Ng was leading 20-15 but he needed six set points before taking the second set 22-20 to draw level. Ng then completed his stunning comeback, taking the deciding set 21-13.
The two-time East Asian Games medallist pulled away with a crucial 9-1 run when the score was tied at 12-apiece in the third set.
Hong Kong’s other men’s singles star Lee Cheuk-yiu bowed out of the competition on Wednesday, and remains winless this year.