SEPANG – Lee Zii Jia’s coach, Wong Tat Meng, believes it is still too early to discuss his future with the men’s singles player after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics.
Speaking to Scoop, Tat Meng explained that he could not provide any answers yet as the world number six player still had several tournaments to compete in for the remainder of the year.
The 57-year-old coach’s contract with Team LZJ is set to expire at the end of this year.
“I can’t answer this question now; let’s wait until the end of the year because there is still time.
“But for now, everything has been planned, and we will proceed as usual,” said Tat Meng when met during the welcoming ceremony for the national badminton squad at Kuala Lumpur International Airport today.
Since coaching Zii Jia in May 2023, Tat Meng has successfully guided him to several titles, including the Arctic Open, Thailand Open, Australian Open and, most recently, a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
Previously, Tat Meng announced that the Paris 2024 campaign with Zii Jia was a “do or die” mission, as he planned to retire after more than 20 years in coaching.
However, Zii Jia remains determined to pursue his dream of winning a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
When asked about this, Zii Jia’s manager, Lee Zii Yii, also mentioned that there had been no discussions on the matter yet.
However, Zii Yii, who is also the sister of the former Asian champion, acknowledged Tat Meng’s significant role in Team LZJ, particularly in managing Zii Jia’s on-court performance.
“So far, we have not discussed this matter, but since day one of our collaboration, I have been very pleased with his management.
“With his presence, I can focus on off-court matters without worrying about technical issues, which I previously had to handle both on and off the court.
“He made my job easier, and he is very professional in managing all the support staff and Zii Jia’s sparring partners,” Zii Yii told Scoop. – August 7, 2024