PETALING JAYA: Former world No. 1 men’s singles shuttler Roslin Hashim has warned against placing hopes on uncertainty.
That was his reminder amid talk of relying on former Asian champion Lee Zii Jia to bolster Malaysia’s Thomas Cup campaign in Horsens, Denmark, in April.
Roslin believes it would be a major risk to depend on Zii Jia’s inclusion in the national squad, given that no one is certain about the extent of his injury after he was forced into a lengthy break this year.
Rather than pinning hopes on an uncertain option, Roslin said it would be wiser for the national camp to strengthen the performances of their existing singles players, especially as there is still time to do so.
As such, priority should be given to Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh over the next four months, not only to build their confidence but also to sharpen their playing style so they are capable of taking on any opponent at the team event.
Relying on Zii Jia, whose fitness remains unclear, would only add pressure as he may not yet be fully match fit, even though there has been speculation that he could be considered as a third singles player for the team competition due to his declining world ranking.
“I think it is a risky move because if you look at this year, he started with an ankle injury, returned to play a few tournaments, then had to take another few months off, and the same thing happened again even though it was a different injury.
“For me, let him find his rhythm again first. Only when he is ready should he be called up, rather than giving indications now that he will be absorbed into the Thomas Cup squad.
He said the main focus should be on ensuring Jun Hao and Justin perform well.
“Jun Hao is not in the best form at the moment, but we should not forget that he has actually been very strong in team events before,” said Roslin.
“The coaching staff need to lift his spirits, and he also needs to work on improving his performance because there is still time.
“The same goes for Justin. He showed very good form at the recent Thailand SEA Games, and I hope he can carry that momentum forward over the next four months.
“If both of them perform well and can deliver points, there will be less concern about a third singles option, provided our two men’s doubles pairs are also strong,” added Roslin.
It is understood that Zii Jia is currently undergoing intensive training in preparation for the Malaysian Open from Jan 6-11.
This will be his first tournament after a three-month break following his last appearance at the China Masters in September, before he announced an early end to his 2025 schedule due to a back injury.
Meanwhile, before looking ahead to Horsens, the Malaysian squad will first need to prepare a strong team for the Asian Team Championships in Qingdao this February, which will also serve as the qualifying event for the Thomas and Uber Cups.
