KUALA LUMPUR – Paris Olympics bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia must deliver strong performances in the upcoming Arctic Open, Denmark Open, and China Masters if he hopes to secure a spot in the season-ending World Tour Finals this December.
The world number three’s qualifying campaign hit a snag yesterday when he was unexpectedly knocked out in the first round of the China Open in Changzhou.
Zii Jia, 26, appeared completely off form as he suffered a heavy 21-15, 21-2 defeat to Japan’s Koki Watanabe at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Former England international and Badminton World Federation (BWF) pundit Ben Beckman did not hold back in his assessment of Zii Jia’s second consecutive first-round exit following the Paris Games.
In a post-match interview with BWF, Zii Jia, who also failed to clear the Japan Open first round last month, admitted he has been struggling to regain peak physical condition and has been dealing with unusual injuries.
“There’s a lot that could be said, but what it boils down to is that Zii Jia looked like someone who hasn’t trained since the Olympics.
“Sluggish movements, errors, no patience, and no real reading of the game.
“But I’m sure Zii Jia knows all this himself and will look to turn things around on the European Tour in a few weeks’ time,” Beckman commented on his Instagram story.
Having won the Arctic Open last year and reached the final of the Denmark Open, Zii Jia stands to lose a significant number of ranking points if he fails to replicate or come close to his previous achievements.
The Kedah-born player acknowledged that he needs to get himself back on track before heading to Vantaa, Finland, where the Arctic Open is scheduled from October 8 to 13.
Zii Jia is currently sixth on the HSBC Race to Finals ranking and will need to remain in the top eight to qualify for the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, scheduled from December 11 to 15. – September 18, 2024