PETALING JAYA: Concerns grew when men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia, gearing up for the Thomas Cup Finals, bowed out in the first round of the Swiss Open but his team saw the defeat in a positive light.
The Paris Olympics bronze medallist, who appeared uncomfortable throughout the match due to an apparent injury, went down 12-21, 14-21 to Singapore’s Jason Teh in just 28 minutes at Jakobsville Hall in Basel.
The defeat not only disrupted his plan to collect ranking points to improve his position after slipping to world No. 96, but also raised worries over his physical condition ahead of the Finals in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24-May 3.
Team LZJ was quick to respond after the setback.
“Another step taken towards the rebuild at the Swiss Open 2026. Thank you Basel,” said his team.
In Basel, he had to come through two matches in the qualifying round to earn a place in the main draw.
Zii Jia had also raised eyebrows earlier after withdrawing from the German Open last month and he did not compete in the All-England because he did not qualify.
The 27-year-old has struggled with injuries in several parts of his body and was forced to take a lengthy break last year.
The situation is worrying with the Thomas Cup only about seven weeks away – as Zii Jia is being counted on as the third singles player.
Zii Jia is next scheduled to compete in the Orleans Masters in France on Tuesday, where he will go through the qualifying rounds again.
He will face India’s Sankar Subramanian and a win will set up a clash against either China’s Dong Tianyao or India’s Mithun Manjunath for a place in the main draw.
While Zii Jia was sent packing early, compatriot Justin Hoh kept the Malaysian challenge alive after overcoming France’s Arnaud Merkle 20-22, 21-16, 21-17 in another first round match.
Justin will face India’s Tharun Mannepalli for a place in the quarter-finals.
In the women’s singles, Wong Ling Ching also delivered a strong performance after defeating Taiwan’s Huang Yu-hsun 21-14, 21-9 to set up a meeting against top seed Putri Kusuma of Indonesia in the second round.
Another Malaysian, K. Letshanaa, bowed out after losing to Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamruphan 21-23, 21-14, 14-21.
In the mixed doubles, only Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing advanced after defeating Denmark’s Rasmus Espersen-Amalie Kudsk 21-18, 22-20. They will next meet Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu.
Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien were eliminated 17-21, 21-17, 14-21 by Thailand’s Pakkapon Teera-ratsakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai while Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin exited with a 19-21, 24-26 defeat to China’s Zhu Yijun-Li Qian.
RESULTS
First round
(Malaysians only)
Men’s singles: Jason Teh (Sin) bt Lee Zii Jia 21-12, 21-14; Justin Hoh bt Arnauld Merkle (Fra) 20-22, 21-16, 21-17.
Women’s singles: Busanan Ongbamruphan (Tha) bt K. Letshanaa 23-21, 14-21, 21-14; Wong Ling Ching bt Huang Yu-hsun (Tpe) 21-14, 21-9.
Mixed doubles: Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) bt Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien 17-21, 21-17, 21-14; Zhu Yijun-Li Qian (Chn) bt Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin 21-19, 26-24; Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing bt Rasmus Espersen-Amalie Kudsk (Den) 21-18, 22-20.
