Malaysia’s badminton team preparations for the Thomas Cup are taking shape, but a crucial decision is still pending from one of the country’s top players. Lee Zii Jia, an independent singles star recovering from injuries last year, has yet to respond to an official invitation from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to participate in centralised training ahead of the finals in Denmark this April.
BAM performance committee chairman Lee Chong Wei said the invitation was sent to Zii Jia and his management team, but no reply has been received so far. He stressed that invitations to train together are open and Zii Jia can join as soon as he confirms. Chong Wei also noted that team training offers a different experience from individual tournaments and is valuable preparation for a team event like the Thomas Cup.
Source: The Star
The federation has also invited other independent players, including singles shuttler Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin and men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, to join sessions at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara.
Zii Jia has been seen as an important figure in Malaysia’s bid to end a 34‑year wait for the Thomas Cup title, despite an injury‑affected 2025. He returned to competition this year, taking part in four events in January, though he had to retire during his match at the Thailand Masters.
Chong Wei said there is still no detailed update on Zii Jia’s fitness since the Thailand Masters, and only the player can best assess his condition. BAM has been following up by email and plans further contact to confirm his participation.
The national body also intends to send both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup squads to Denmark ahead of the competition for acclimatisation. Chong Wei urged all players, regardless of their status, to commit to training together, saying unity is crucial for a team event.
Malaysia’s Thomas Cup campaign runs from April 24 to May 3 in Horsens, and BAM is preparing early in hopes of ending the long title drought.
