PETALING JAYA: Is national men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia struggling emotionally, going through a personal crisis or is it just nothing? Only he holds the answer.
But for former Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Goh Liu Ying (pic), Zii Jia should seek help for his own well-being before things spiral further, that is if he is indeed battling internal struggles.
One of the drawings showed a faceless, stitched-up figure holding a long, blood-stained needle. Another depicted a person lying on a sofa with sharp objects piercing the body and their brain exposed.
Many fans expressed worry, fearing Zii Jia may be struggling to cope, possibly still dealing with the foot injury that has kept him out of action for most of the year.
He is expected to make a return to competition at the Japan Open from July 15-20.
“I think all athletes deal with pressure to some degree. But if the pressure becomes overwhelming, it’s important to speak to a psychologist,” said Liu Ying.
“I’ve been through it myself, and I made the decision to seek help.
“The first step is to acknowledge the problem. That’s the hardest part, because many people in that situation will deny it.
“But if you can admit that something’s wrong, then there’s a path forward. If not, no advice, no matter how well-meaning will get through.”
Liu Ying added that perhaps Zii Jia has yet to find a way to release that pressure.
“What matters is finding a way to cope. It could be talking to a friend or taking time to figure out what works best for him,” she said.
Liu Ying also did not rule out the possibility that Zii Jia’s frustration could be linked to his injury, which has seen his world ranking slip to No. 27. Speaking from experience, Liu Ying recalled a difficult period in 2017 when she sustained a serious knee injury.
For her, the most mentally exhausting part wasn’t the surgery itself, but it was the months of rehabilitation that followed.
“That’s what really takes a toll on you mentally. And now that he’s an independent player, the pressure is probably higher especially from sponsors who expect visibility and performance,” she said.
“There’s pressure when sponsors ask, ‘When can you start competing again?’ and that could potentially affect his income.
“He may also feel rushed to return to court. And if he does, but isn’t in his best shape or fails to produce results, it can be disheartening.
“But the truth is, players coming back from injury need time to adapt. It’s unrealistic to expect them to return to 100% immediately.
“At best, you’re operating at 50 to 60% when you return. The rest must be built back gradually through competition.”
StarSport reached out to Zii Jia’s sister and Team LZJ manager, Lee Zii Yii, for an update on his current condition but did not receive a response.
