KUALA LUMPUR – Lee Zii Jia began his World Tour Finals campaign on a high note, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in straight sets, 21-13, 21-15, in his Group A opener.
However, the victory was overshadowed by a controversy involving his jersey.
The Malaysian shuttler, whose official equipment sponsor is Victor, took to the court with the national flag mistakenly sewn upside down on his attire, drawing widespread attention from fans and spectators alike.
Victor, a key partner in Zii Jia’s career providing apparel, racquets, and other gear, quickly issued a public apology for the oversight, expressing regret for the unintended error.
“We sincerely apologise to all Malaysian badminton fans and Lee Zii Jia for the error displayed on (his) jersey during today’s (match),” the statement read.
Victor stressed that the mistake does not reflect the company’s respect for Malaysia or its national symbols.
“The Malaysian flag embodies unity and identity, and we deeply regret any unintended disrespect caused by this oversight.
“We are conducting a thorough review of our processes to ensure such errors do not occur in the future,” it added.
In response to Victor’s statement, Team LZJ expressed their gratitude for the clarification.
“In light of the statement made by our sponsor Victor, we at Team LZJ would like to thank them for clarifying the matter.
“Together we will ensure that nothing as stated in the statement made by Victor happens again,” Team LZJ said.
The jersey mishap sparked a mix of disappointment and understanding among Malaysian fans. — December 11, 2024