KUALA LUMPUR – With number one Malaysian shuttler Lee Zii Jia no longer under supervision of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), is he free to set his own targets for future tournaments, all while bearing the nation’s flag on his chest?
According to BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh, Zii Jia is solely responsible for his professional schedule and the goals that he aims for.
“Now that he plays independently, he will need to plan his own programme and set his own target,” he said.
This means it is up to Zii Jia to coordinate his strategy to defend his title in the All England Open Badminton Championships, which starts next week on March 16 until 20.
For team tournaments, such as the Thomas and Uber Cup which is set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand from May 8 till 15, Zii Jia will be playing together with his countrymen for the team-based championship title.
“For the Thomas Cup, being a team event, we will of course pick the best players to represent the country,” Kenny added.
Zii Jia’s name is not included in the list of representatives heading for the 2022 SEA games in Hanoi, Vietnam taking place May 12 until 23.
The world number seven shuttler caused a stir among the badminton fraternity last January when he announced his resignation from BAM at the young age of 23.
This came following former female shuttler Goh Jin Wei’s departure from the national body after citing she wished to retire from the sport altogether due to health issues.
Stating that this was a breach of contract, BAM slapped both players with a two-year ban but left the door open for the possibility of an appeal.
To avoid missing out on international events and risk dropping down the Badminton World Federation (BWF) world ranks, both players swiftly appealed and got their bans lifted by BAM.
Since then, however, Jin Wei has been absent from tournaments and is not included in name lists for future competitions as well.
But not Zii Jia, who led the victorious Malaysian contingent at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in February.
Now, he is in Muelheim An Der Ruhr facing off in the German Open as the only men’s singles player after rising shuttler Ng Tze Yong was forced to pull out due to a minor injury. – The Vibes, March 12, 2022
