KUALA LUMPUR – Former national junior coach Kwan Yoke Meng is proud to witness a remarkable transformation in his former protege, Lee Zii Jia, as he secures consecutive finals appearances over the past two weeks.
Yoke Meng, who previously mentored Zii Jia during his time in the national junior squad, notes a significant increase in the player’s aggression, particularly in his offensive game.
This strategic adjustment has paid dividends, with Zii Jia claiming victory at the Thailand Open in mid-May, followed by a breakthrough performance at the Malaysia Masters, where he reached the final before conceding to Viktor Axelsen.
For Yoke Meng, these developments in Zii Jia’s game are encouraging, especially with the Paris Olympics less than two months away and the player expressing a clear ambition to win gold at the prestigious event.
“Now we can see many changes in his game, especially in his return to an attacking style of play. Previously, he seemed to be trying to rectify his weaknesses but forgot how to score points.
“Actually, his strength lies in attacking gameplay, which is crucial for securing points.
“He also needs to excel in defensive aspects and net play, all of which need to be perfected.
“If you don’t use your weapons, how do you expect to score points? Now I feel he’s starting to realise this, and that’s a good sign for him,” said Yoke Meng, who left the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) last year.
Thus, Yoke Meng said he believes that badminton remains relevant as a medal-contributing sport for the Malaysian contingent at the Olympic Games, despite the current lacklustre performances of national players.
For instance, despite the struggles of the country’s top men’s doubles pair, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, they are still seen as the nation’s best hope, even though they are currently grappling with performance issues.
Three years ago, Aaron-Wooi Yik managed to secure bronze for Malaysia in their Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“If you look at it now, among the medal prospects are from men’s singles and men’s doubles.
“But everyone has a chance to win, our Malaysian players also have a chance, they just need to peak at the right time and avoid injuries, and their mental state needs to be top-notch,” he added. – Jun 3, 2024