PETALING JAYA: No one wants to miss a home tournament, but men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia (pic) had to face that reality after pulling out of the Malaysian Open which starts on Tuesday.
A good friend off the court and the competition’s defending champion Anders Antonsen expressed his sympathy to Zii Jia ahead of the Super 1000 tournament.
“What is there to say, it’s really a shame. I’m sure he (Zii Jia) would have loved to play on his home soil, I know that for sure,” said world No. 2 Antonsen, when met at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) yesterday.
“I do feel sorry for him. Not sure exactly what he did but he got injured during the World Tour Finals when he had already made it to the semi-finals and he seemed well and motivated.
“I wish him a speedy recovery.’’
Antonsen, who defeated Japan’s Kodai Naraoka to win the Malaysian Open last year, will start his campaign at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil against Taiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei.
World No. 6 Zii Jia announced his withdrawal from the BWF World Tour 2025 season opener on Friday, stating that he hadn’t recovered from a previous injury.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce Zii Jia will not be able to appear at the BWF World Tour 2025 season opener and home tournament, the Malaysian Open.
“Zii Jia, unfortunately, has not fully recovered from the right ankle ligament injury sustained during the World Tour Finals in December 2024.
“His participation for the Indian Open and Indonesian Masters scheduled in January 2025 is also under consideration, pending his full recovery,” the statement said.
Zii Jia was slated to meet Taiwan’s Su Li-yang in the opening round of the tournament. Zii Jia’s withdrawal means Leong Jun Hao remains the only Malaysian in the men’s singles department and will play China’s Lu Guangzu in the first round.
