Zii Jia holds off on Thomas Cup return until form improves [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: Men's singles huttler Lee Zii Jia says he must regain his form before committing to Malaysia's Thomas Cup squad, fearing his current level would not benefit the national team.

Zii Jia suffered a first-round exit at the Malaysia Open on Tuesday, losing 21-12, 21-17 to India's Ayush Shetty.

It was his first World Tour appearance since the China Masters in September.

The world No. 144 is on a comeback trail after injuries limited him to just five tournaments last season.

The Thomas Cup is scheduled to be held in Denmark from April 24-May 3.

While some suggest the former All England champion could serve as a strong third singles player, Zii Jia said he wants to be at a level where he can take on a more prominent role.

"For me, I will always be ready if the team need me. However, personally, I think my expectations are slightly different because I need to be back to at least 70 to 80 per cent before I can feel confident representing the team at the Thomas Cup," Zii Jia said at the Axiata Arena.

"To be honest, if I am placed as the first singles player in my current condition, I don't think it would be an advantage for the team.

"The expectations I have set for myself are a bit high. It's not that I'm refusing or saying no, but if I am going to play as first singles, I have certain expectations of my own.

"I don't want to be in a situation where I go in just to play, knowing that my condition isn't good enough. I definitely want something different — something better."

Zii Jia, who won the Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, would add depth to the squad even in his current state.

However, to play as the first or second singles, he must break into the top 30 by April.

World No. 28 Leong Jun Hao and world No. 39 Justin Hoh are currently ranked higher than Zii Jia, meaning he would likely be positioned as the third singles player.