Malaysian badminton star Lee Zii Jia continues to face a challenging run of results, raising concerns ahead of the prestigious Thomas Cup in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3.
At the Orleans Masters, Lee won his first qualifying match against India’s S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramaniam 21-12, 21-18, but he was eliminated in the next round by China’s Dong Tian Yao 21-18, 21-14. Losing to a lower-ranked opponent underscores the depth of his current struggles.
This season has been particularly disappointing for Lee following his return from ankle and back injuries in January. Early exits at the Malaysia Open and India Open were followed by a second-round loss at the Indonesia Masters. He briefly reached the quarter-finals at the Thailand Masters before retiring against Alwi Farhan. Most recently at the Swiss Open, he qualified but lost in the first round to Singapore’s Jason Teh 21-12, 21-14. His world ranking has dropped to No. 86, reflecting this difficult period.
Badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek has suggested that Lee consider returning to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) training program. Rashid emphasized that having more sparring partners could help Lee regain match sharpness, confidence, and overall performance.
With the Thomas Cup fast approaching, Lee’s fitness and form remain uncertain. Rashid highlighted that addressing weaknesses quickly is crucial for the national team’s chances. While Malaysia has several talented singles players, having Lee at his best is vital for a strong performance.
Despite the uncertainty, Malaysia has contingency plans. The Thomas Cup squad will include at least four singles players, though the final lineup is still undecided. The question remains whether Lee Zii Jia will take Rashid’s advice and rejoin BAM to rebuild his form before the tournament.
