Malaysia’s top men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia is preparing to return to the international stage at the World Championships in Paris from Aug 25–31, ending a four-month break from competition.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed on July 29 that the former world No. 2 has accepted an invitation to participate in the tournament. However, he has until Aug 12 to make a final decision if he chooses to withdraw.
Zii Jia, 26, has been battling a left ankle ligament injury since December last year, which has restricted him to only two appearances this season – at the Orleans Masters and the All-England Open in March – before the injury flared up again.
His management team, Team LZJ, successfully secured a protected ranking to safeguard his position, and he had initially targeted a comeback at the US Open in June. But as his recovery was not complete, he had to pull out. This setback also ruled him out of the China Open and Japan Open recently.
Fans’ concerns grew further when Zii Jia shared a series of intense sketches on social media, prompting speculation about his mental state. While some regarded the drawings as a creative outlet, others feared they reflected his frustration and discouragement from being away from the court for so long.
Should he compete, Zii Jia will be joined by fellow Malaysian Leong Jun Hao, who will be making his World Championships debut.
Paris could once again prove a special venue for Zii Jia, as he memorably clinched a bronze medal at the Olympic Games there last year. Malaysian supporters will be hoping the city will inspire another strong showing from their star shuttler.
