PETALING JAYA: They were once friendly rivals in Penang. Now, they are foes, with both aiming for the gold at the Paris Olympics and representing different countries
But some friendships can really endure, with men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia choosing to spar with Singapore’s 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew at the Adidas Arena in Porte de la Chapelle ahead of the competition which starts tomorrow.
Zii Jia had joined Kean Yew for a one-week training camp earlier in the month in Singapore along with Thailand’s current world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu.
Zii Jai and Kean Yew could meet in the semi-finals of the men’s badminton compeitition if both get that far in Paris.
In a video uploaded by coach Wong Tat Meng on his social media page, 26-year-old Zii Jia was seen practising his shots with Kean Yew and fellow Malaysian and official sparring partner Lee Shun Yang.
World No 7 Zii Jia, an independent player, will open his campaign in Group G against Sri Lanka’s Viren Nettasinghe on the second day of the competition on Sunday.
He will also play Spain’s Pablo Abian in the group and should have no problem reaching the round of 16 as the group winner.
Zii Jia’s first real test will come in the round of 16 with either Indonesia’s 2021 Tokyo Games bronze medallist Anthony Ginting or Frenchman Toma Popov - who are both in Group H - in his way.
Then, the likes of Denmark’s world No. 4 Anders Antonsen (quarter-final) and China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi (semi-final) could be in his way.
Zii Jia is competing in his second Olympics after making his debut in 2021.
He has rediscovered some of his best form at just the right time, having captured the Thailand and Australian Opens and finishing runners-up in the Malaysian Masters.
He is not considered one of the favourites for gold but Zii Jia could always spring a surprise.
