KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s top men’s singles badminton player, Lee Zii Jia, views the Indonesia Open as his ultimate challenge before the Paris Olympic Games, with just 52 days remaining until the biggest sporting event in the world.
As one of the prestigious Super 1000 tournaments on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) calendar, the Indonesia Open presents a formidable test for Zii Jia.
His campaign began on a positive note with a convincing victory over Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long, scoring 21-17, 21-16 in a 40-minute match.
Zii Jia’s victory over Angus marks his third consecutive win against him since the final of the Thailand Open last month, followed by the semifinals of the Malaysia Masters.
“This tournament is a significant test for me, as all the top players are participating, and there are no easy rounds. Every match is challenging. I’m currently in good and stable condition, so I believe this tournament is an excellent test for me before the Olympics.
“Of course, I felt a bit nervous because I’ve beaten him (Angus) four times this year. Opponents tend to study my game, so it’s going to be tough, especially since his coach (Wong Choong Hann) was my former coach. That adds to the challenge.
“I need to adapt every time because opponents do their research. That’s why I need to be more flexible,” said Zii Jia.
However, Zii Jia admitted that his physical condition is not at 100% after withdrawing from the first round of the Singapore Open last week.
He expressed admiration for some players, such as world number 11, Chou Tien Chen, who have consistently performed well in the last three tournaments.
“To be honest, my condition isn’t the best. I only had a week to recover and didn’t train much. I focused on resting and cooling down my body to prevent injuries.
“Additionally, I did light training to maintain my physical condition. I’d say I’m at 70 to 80%, but I think every player is facing a similar situation.
“I’m surprised Chou Tien Chen is performing so well, given his age of 34. It’s impressive,” he added.
Alternatively, he needs to await the outcome of the Kiran George versus Weng Hong Yang match to ascertain his opponent for the upcoming second round. – June 4, 2024