PETALING JAYA: Concern is growing over the injury situation of professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia as the national squad step up preparations for the Thomas Cup in Horsens, Denmark from April 24-May 3.
Zii Jia was supposed to begin training with the national team at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday, but there was no sign of him.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who was present to observe the team’s preparations for the world team meet, was informed by national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen that Zii Jia had to delay joining training due to an ankle injury.
“I was informed by Jonassen that he was supposed to start today, but because he has a slight injury, we are waiting for feedback from Zii Jia on when he can begin. He could not confirm when, but he said he hopes he will be able to,” said Zafrul.
Zafrul added that Zii Jia’s presence is crucial as his services will not only be needed for the Thomas Cup, but BAM are also planning to work closely with him for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya in September.
As such, if the injury continues to trouble him, it could pose a problem for the national camp.
“Our plans for Zii Jia go beyond just the Thomas Cup, as we also have the Asian Games. The focus this year is not only on the Thomas Cup, but also on the Asian Games, where we aim to deliver a medal.
“Again, in my discussions with Jonassen and Rexy (Mainaky), as the Thomas Cup involves both doubles and singles players, if Zii Jia is fit and psychologically confident, he can certainly help the country. But if he is injured, it will be difficult,” he added.
BAM now have less than eight days to finalise the squad for the Thomas Cup ahead of the April 10 registration deadline.
Zafrul had previously set a target for Malaysia to win the Thomas Cup in Horsens to end the country’s 34-year title drought.
It is part of the “Tangkis Juara 2030” plan introduced by Zafrul in August last year after taking over as BAM president.
