Warming up: Lee Zii Jia in action during a court session at Axiata Arena. Behind him are Liew Daren (left) and Yeoh Kay Bin. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: For professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia, survival without surgery was not just a choice, but a risk worth taking after a difficult injury-hit year.
And the 27-year-old Zii Jia sees it as a blessings in disguise.
The shuttler, who is currently preparing for the Malaysian Open starting tomorrow, said a specialist doctor had previously recommended surgery for his back injury.
However, Zii Jia was adamant against going under the knife, fearing not only that it would take much longer to recover, but also that a worst-case scenario could prevent him from ever returning to the court.
“Luckily, I didn’t have to undergo surgery, although there was a doctor who suggested it,” said the former All-England champion.
“If it had been surgery, I don’t think you would be seeing me here again because it would have taken a much longer time to recover. Even then, there are no guarantees as we do not know the consequences of surgery.
“There was a doctor who recommended surgery, but to be honest, it was never part of my plan. That’s why I tried to find other options and went down that route.”
The back injury came after Zii Jia competed in the Hong Kong Open and China Masters in September last year.
Adding to his struggles, a few months earlier, he suffered a serious injury to his right ankle. Overall, the Los Angeles Olympic bronze medallist managed to compete in only five tournaments, exiting in the first round in all of them.
Zii Jia admitted that his decision to forego surgery and focus on rehabilitation was not an easy one, as he faced numerous challenges during that period.
“I mean, for last year, I mostly did a lot of rehab. So, whether I like it or not, this is something that I have to go through. It’s a process,” he added.
Zii Jia appeared to be in top form during a court session at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil yesterday, accompanied by his coaches Yeoh Kay Bin and Liew Daren.
He will be facing rising Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty in the first round.
Although he is aware that he will be competing as an unseeded player this time, some pressure remains, given that the tournament is being held on home soil.
“For me, there’s no difference coming here as an unseeded player. Rather than focusing on performing better, I see this as a test for me. It has been a while since I competed in a tournament at this level.
“I don’t think it feels much different, because in a way, this is still like home. Of course, there is some pressure, but as I said, I will do my best.
“I’m back from injury and ready to compete,” said Zii Jia.
