KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s men’s singles professional player, Lee Zii Jia, is set to bring his entire team to assist him in preparing for the upcoming Paris Olympics, starting next Friday.
Zii Jia previously sought chef de mission Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin’s help in obtaining two additional accreditation cards for his physiotherapist and personal sparring partner to accompany him to Paris.
However, according to a statement from the Olympic Council of Malaysia released yesterday, no Team LZJ staff names were included in the list of officials named by the governing body.
Speaking to Scoop, Zii Jia’s manager, who is also his sister, Lee Zii Yii, clarified that despite not obtaining the additional two accreditation cards, all members of Team LZJ would still accompany the nation’s top-ranked player to Paris, with all expenses covered by themselves.
Aside from the siblings, Team LZJ heading to Paris tonight includes coach Wong Tat Meng, physiotherapist Rayvadee Rattanakthada, strength and conditioning coach Lim Joe Heang and sparring partner Lee Shun Yang.
They will not be staying at the official Malaysian contingent residence at Team Malaysia House in Paris.
“For now, the entire team will travel to Paris. We will all be there to support, but only coach Tat Meng will stay in the athletes’ village with Zii Jia.
“We are bearing all expenses for the entire team ourselves,” said Zii Yii.
Zii Jia, who openly aims to win gold at the Paris Olympics, has been drawn into Group G alongside Spain’s Pablo Abian and Sri Lanka’s Viren Nettasinghe.
However, the real challenge for Zii Jia will begin in the knockout rounds.
Two weeks ago, Zii Jia had a short training stint in Singapore, where he trained with several world-renowned players, including the republic’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, and Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk-yiu and Chan Yin-chak.
“The preparation is all good for now and we still have a few days of training after arrival in Paris,” Zii Yii added. – July 21, 2024