PETALING JAYA: It is time for professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia to build up the momentum for the Thomas Cup Finals in Denmark next month.
He will get a chance to justify the selection when he returns for action at the Swiss Open starting on Tuesday in Basel.
The Kedah-born player however, will have to start from the qualifying rounds to secure a place in the main draw.
Zii Jia will first face Japan’s world No. 54 Minoru Koga.
If he gets past Koga, he will have to clear another hurdle against either Taiwan’s world No. 46 Wang Po-wei or Croatia’s world No. 56 Aria Dinata for a spot in the main draw.
Zii Jia was supposed to compete at the German Open last week but withdrew at the last minute due to injury concern, while his ranking also meant he was not eligible for the All-England this week.
The 27-year-old is already in England as he looks to adapt to the European weather.
Compatriot Justin Hoh will also compete in the Swiss Open and will face France’s Arnaud Merkle in the first round.
Zii Jia, Justin, along with Leong Jun Hao and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, are frontrunners for the four singles spot in the squad for the team event in Horsens.
