PETALING JAYA: The men’s singles camp are pressing on with their preparations for the Thomas Cup as usual despite the absence of Paris Olympic bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia.
National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen revealed that Zii Jia is nursing an ankle injury, which prevented him from reporting for training yesterday.
Jonassen, however, is not overly concerned and prefers to give the player time, allowing him to rejoin the national squad only when he is fully fit.
“It’s a minor thing that he’ll be able to overcome, so I don’t put any specific focus on this. I just want him to have a speedy recovery and come back to the courts as soon as possible,” said Jonassen.
“There is some time, so let’s not rush things. It’s important when players join that they are fully fit and can give a hundred per cent,” he added.
Zii Jia had previously struggled with injuries, particularly last year when he was sidelined for an extended period due to back and ankle issues.
The 28-year-old made his return this year and initially showed promising signs, but the old injury resurfaced during his trip to Europe last month, forcing him to withdraw from the German Open.
With Zii Jia temporarily unavailable, Jonassen is now focusing on preparing the other players, including fellow professional Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, who has been invited to assist the Thomas Cup squad.
Aidil has been training with the national team for the past two weeks, and Jonassen is currently working on building chemistry among the players to ensure a strong team spirit.
Besides Aidil and Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh are also expected to strengthen the men’s singles squad for the Thomas Cup in Horsens later this month.
“Aidil has come as we are testing him before final selection and he’s been undergoing training for almost two weeks now and his condition is good.
“And at the same time, he brings a high level which we really appreciate. So, yeah, it’s a positive process with Aidil,” added Jonassen.
