KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia has expressed his willingness to assist the Malaysian badminton squad in their upcoming challenge at the Thomas Cup Championship, set to commence in Chengdu, China, beginning April 28.
In a post-match interview with Shuttle Times, which was broadcast on the social media platform Weibo, the world number 11 acknowledged his commendable track record every time he dons the national jersey for team championships.
However, time is running out for Zii Jia and his management to make a decision as the tournament’s player registration deadline approaches on Saturday.
“”At the moment, my management is still discussing and evaluating all aspects with BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia).
“Hopefully, we can come to a positive conclusion to participate in this year’s Thomas Cup.
“As you know, whether it’s the Thomas Cup or the Sudirman Cup, I have frequently participated and achieved favourable results. Therefore, I hope to be able to join again this time,” said Zii Jia.
If Zii Jia agrees to compete, it would provide relief for the national team, which is currently grappling with a shortage of top tier men’s singles players to take to Chengdu.
World number 18, Ng Tze Yong, is still dealing with a back injury, while Justin Hoh and Eogene Ewe have little experience competing in team championships.
This situation has forced the BAM to consider calling up another professional player, Cheam June Wei, to bolster the national squad for the Thomas Cup.
Earlier today, Zii Jia easily advanced to the second round of the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC), defeating India’s Priyanshu Rajawat, and will face Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen tomorrow. – April 10, 2024