Malaysian men’s singles badminton player Lee Jan Jireh has declined an offer from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to return to the national squad, choosing instead to pursue his career as an independent professional.
Jan Jireh announced his decision on social media, expressing gratitude for BAM’s invitation but saying he was more comfortable focusing on his own development outside the national setup. He said the choice was not easy but felt it was the best way for him to grow and give his best effort every day.
The 21-year-old previously trained under the national programme but was dropped from the team in October 2024 along with several other players. Since then he considered retiring after finishing as runner-up at the Malaysian International Challenge last year, but ultimately decided to continue playing. He now competes professionally under Sports Affairs, supported by management company Nova Armada.
Despite turning down BAM’s offer, Jan Jireh said he remains fully supportive of his former national teammates and hopes they can continue to inspire each other and bring success to Malaysia on the international stage.
BAM’s current men’s singles squad is led by Datuk Tey Seu Bock and includes senior players such as Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh, Eogene Ewe, Kong Zhou Swin, Kok Wei Xiang, and Ng Tze Yong, who is recovering from a back injury.
