Badminton Association of Malaysia has confirmed it is open to allowing independent men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia to train at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM), a move that could strengthen ties between the national body and the country’s top independent shuttlers.
BAM secretary-general Kenny Goh said the association has previously extended similar invitations to Zii Jia and remains supportive of potential collaboration moving forward.
Speaking after the Perodua Malaysia Masters press conference, Goh explained that BAM has no objections in principle to the former All England champion training at the national facility. However, he added that the arrangement would still require formal approval from the BAM council as well as proper planning regarding training structure and logistics.
One of the key areas under discussion is how Zii Jia would fit into the existing training programme. BAM’s Performance Committee is expected to evaluate whether he should train alongside the elite national squad or within another group setup depending on overall preparation needs.
Zii Jia has reportedly shown interest in using ABM facilities regularly, particularly for sparring sessions and higher-level training opportunities. His willingness to engage with BAM again is seen as a positive development for Malaysian badminton.
The potential cooperation could also benefit the wider national setup by creating stronger training depth and increasing exposure for younger players competing alongside one of Malaysia’s leading badminton stars.
Observers believe the move reflects a more open and flexible approach from BAM towards independent athletes, which could help strengthen Malaysia’s overall competitiveness on the international stage.
