Lee Zii Jia is back in action this week as the Malaysian continues his long, slow climb up the badminton world rankings from nearly two full years of recurring injuries that have seen him tumble out of the top 10 to as low as 144th earlier this year.
The 28-year-old is due to play in the qualifying draw at the BWF Arctic Open in Finland this week, having declined to be selected for Malaysia’s recent Asian Games campaign.
Lee’s last competition came at the Super 100 Vietnam Open in September, where – despite the relatively lower standard of opposition compared to the World Tour – he was knocked out in the first round. His previous outing, at August’s Korea Masters, also ended at the first hurdle.
Malaysian fans, fiercely proud of their national shuttlers, have long discussed what Lee should do next.
National legend Lee Chong Wei, now the chair of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) performance committee, reportedly recently offered his fellow Olympic medallist the chance to play at the Asian Games.
“But he declined as he felt he was not ready and we respected that,” Chong Wei said last month according to The Star.
“BAM’s door is open for him and he can always discuss his future with us. I do feel sad for him but he has to make the call. The initiative should come from him.”
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/lee-zii-jia-badminton-arctic-open-what-next-former-world-no-2
