Lee will be eyeing world crown after he fulfils role as team captain

PETALING JAYA: Having recently declared that he belongs to the world’s best, All-England champion Lee Zii Jia says he’s ready to make a bid to become a world champion.

The 23-year-old believes he will be heading for his second world meet in Huelva, Spain, from Dec 12-19 as among the genuine contenders.

Zii Jia enjoyed an impressive debut in Basel, Switzerland, two years ago. He made it to the quarter-finals – just one win away from the podium position – before losing to world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan.

The world meet will be the last assignment in Zii Jia’s hectic tournament schedule that comprises nine events in 12 weeks, starting with the Sudirman Cup in Vantaa, Finland, two weeks ago.

After the ongoing Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals in Aarhus, there’s the Denmark Open (Oct 19-24), French Open (Oct 26-31), Hylo Open, Germany (Nov 2-7), Indonesian Masters (Nov 16-21), Indonesian Open (Nov 23-28) and World Tour Finals (if he qualifies, Dec 1-5), the three back-to-back events in Bali.

Zii Jia said he is looking to make the most of the tight schedule to build on a fine momentum leading to the world meet, which is his ultimate goal.

“Our final target will be the World Championships. Everyone’s dream is to be world champion. I also have the same wish of wanting to be world champion,” said Zii Jia in an interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) ahead of the Group D opener with Canada today.

“Of course, at this Thomas Cup tournament I will give my best but my main target will be the World Championships.”

Zii Jia is eager to keep his solid form going in Aarhus after a fruitful Sudirman Cup outing.

He won four out of his five matches, which included wins over Momota and Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting, en route to steering Malaysia to their first podium finish in 12 years in the world mixed team event.

Zii Jia has no complaints about the exhausting fixtures, and is grateful to be finally able to play regularly instead.

“For one or two years we haven’t had tournaments. During those times I was also confused about my level, because after tournaments (in a normal season) we break for two months, but now it’s totally different,” said Zii Jia.

“We have tournaments back-to-back, so I think this is a good time for me to test myself and to know my level and whether I can maintain my level all the time.”

National legend Lee Chong Wei had recently said that he’s anticipating an open affair in the race for the men’s singles crown in Huelva.

Chong Wei tipped Zii Jia to contend for the title alongside two-time defending champion Momota, reigning Olympics winner Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, Anthony, Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen and China’s Shi Yuqi.