KUALA LUMPUR – Although it is too soon to call All-England champion, Lee Zii Jia, the next ‘Lee Chong Wei’ as it will only do him more harm than good, the young Kedahan could be the one to revive Malaysian badminton and put the nation back on the world map.
Badminton legend, Datuk James Selvaraj, told The Vibes that it was good to see a singles player from Malaysia step up, but it would be unfair to compare him to Datuk Lee Chong Wei because Zii Jia is still young and fresh.
“Comparison will only serve to demotivate and put unnecessary pressure on Zii Jia. He has the potential to be a great player, but he needs to improve his game further. If groomed well, Zii Jia could be better than Chong Wei.
“Chong Wei has created a legacy for himself and Zii Jia should be allowed to do the same. They are two different players. He is not the next Chong Wei as he is Zii Jia, a player all his own,” he said.
James added that Zii Jia has a long way to go, and he should not let this title get to his head. Instead, he should use this win as an incentive to work harder for far greater accolades, such as the World Championship and the Olympics.
“He played so well against Viktor Axelsen in the final match of the All-England. I saw the birth of a new star and I hope that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will groom him and do what is needed for him to shine brighter,” James said when contacted.
As a former national shuttler during the late 1970s, James’ is no stranger to greatness with a list of achievements, that include a bronze medal in the 1977 Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur, a runner-up position in the 1976 Thomas Cup in Bangkok and a bronze medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.
Simultaneously, BAM president, Tan Sri Norza Zakaria, echoed James and added that Zii Jia needs to be given time and space to chart his own career, citing that it would be rather silly to compare him to Chong Wei at the moment.
“We are very happy with Zii Jia’s win, especially when he defeated Kento Momota in the quarterfinals. He showed the world that on a good day, he can defeat the best players.
“BAM will give him their full support and help him to progress. He needs to work harder to achieve every players’ dream of winning an Olympic medal as well as the World Championship,” Norza told The Vibes when contacted.
As Zii Jia’s win in Birmingham proved that his participation was not just to make up the numbers, proper guidance from BAM and his coach ─ former national singles player Wong Choong Hann ─ could give our nation a player that’s able to champion the hopes of local badminton fans.
Zii Jia, who just turned 23, is currently the World No. 8. – The Vibes, 31 March, 2021
