PETALING JAYA: Badminton commentator and former England doubles shuttler Gillian Clark has shared uplifting words for Lee Zii Jia (pic) ahead of the Malaysian Open, which starts Tuesday (Jan 6).
Clark, who has given fans memorable moments to accompany the action on court, lent encouragement to the 27-year-old, who is returning to competition after being sidelined with injury for most of last year.
"A little over a year ago at the World Tour Finals, while Lee Zii Jia was playing some of his best badminton, he suffered a debilitating ankle injury," Clark said on Instagram.
"Since then, he’s made two aborted attempts at returning to competition, playing just seven matches throughout the whole of 2025.
"This week, the Olympic Bronze medallist returns to competition at the Malaysian Open. And after so long out with injury, the return certainly won’t be easy, not least due to the mental torment every athlete endures while unable to compete."
Speaking from experience, having undergone several surgeries following ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments in both knees, Clark knows that the expectations from others to perform like before the injury are a heavy burden and totally unrealistic.
Clark said that while fans eagerly anticipate Zii Jia’s return to court, it is important to help and encourage any athlete in their valiant return from injury, rather than chastise and criticise them.
"We need to understand the universal struggles of every human being in overcoming adversity.
"Returning athletes deserve both compassion and admiration for the courage and perseverance to keep fighting while on the seemingly relentless road to rehabilitation.
"And above all, we need to understand and be sympathetic to the fact that the mental pain endured during recovery is often greater than the physical pain of the injury itself," she said.
Zii Jia is set to take to the court at the Axiata Arena on Tuesday, as the world No. 144 starts his campaign against world No. 32 Ayush Shetty of India in the opening round.
