KUALA LUMPUR – Last week, Malaysia witnessed Lee Zii Jia’s remarkable perseverance against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the final of the Malaysia Masters, despite grappling with leg cramps.
Unfortunately, the intense match concluded with Zii Jia as the runner-up, a week after his triumph at the Thailand Open.
This week, fans eagerly awaited a strong comeback from the 26-year-old men’s singles shuttler at the Singapore Open.
However, he was forced to withdraw from his first-round match against Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting due to medical reasons.
In a statement released today, his team explained the decision.
“It is a difficult decision to concede a walkover at the Singapore Open, but after a medical assessment in Singapore, Lee Zii Jia has been advised not to participate due to hamstring injuries sustained during the Thailand Open and Malaysia Masters.
“The focus for Zii Jia’s programme will now shift towards rehabilitation.”
With Zii Jia’s withdrawal, Malaysia’s hopes now rest on Leong Jun Hao, the remaining men’s singles representative.
Jun Hao cleared the first round by defeating the higher-ranked Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan, and he will now face Ginting in the second round, stepping up in Zii Jia’s absence. – May 29, 2024