KUALA LUMPUR – “Every badminton player has their wins and losses,” said former badminton legend Ong Ewe Hock as he defended Malaysia’s world no. 2 shuttler, Lee Zii Jia’s shortcomings this season.
He told The Vibes today that it would not be fair for everyone to judge him following his non-starter for the season-ending World Tour Finals in Bangkok from December 7 to 11.
“Just because he is world no. 2 and has been the champion of other tournaments, you cannot expect him to win every single one also.
“We have to look at his performance of the year, not only this competition.
“I am speaking from an ex-player and a management point of view,” he said.
Zii Jia suffered a second-round exit at the Australia Open yesterday after losing to China’s Lu Guang Zu.
The Super 300 event was his last chance to qualify for the season-ending World Tour Finals.
Since the Kedah-born left the national setup Badminton Association of Malaysia in January to be an independent player, he has won two titles – the Asia Championships and Thailand Open.
Ewe Hock, once ranked second in the world, praised Zii Jia for his consistency in going up the ranks.
“He has only gone pro for one year and his rank keeps going up, so you can see that he is doing well for this year.
“You have to see the overall performance, how he has improved over the years. Not just from one tournament.”
Based on the Badminton World Federation world rankings, the 24-year-old was ranked 42 in January 2019.
Then, he climbed to number seven in January this year and continued to rise to number two from October 25. – The Vibes, November 19, 2022
