KUALA LUMPUR — As feared, Malaysia’s top men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia will have to delay his 2025 season debut as he has yet to fully recover from an ankle ligament injury.
Days after withdrawing from the Super 1000 Malaysia Open (this week), his management team, Team LZJ, confirmed today that the 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist will also skip the Super 750 India Open and the Super 500 Indonesia Masters this month.
“Zii Jia’s debut for the 2025 season will be further delayed as he continues to recover from the right ankle ligament injury sustained during the 2024 World Tour Finals. He is confirmed to miss two more tournaments in January, the India Open and Indonesia Masters.
“Team LZJ, with the help of medical experts, will continue to monitor Zii Jia’s injury to prepare for the next available tournament,” read the statement released on social media.
A grade one ligament injury typically takes one to three weeks to heal, but Zii Jia’s rehabilitation appears to require more time, delaying his return to the court.
Currently ranked number six in the world, Zii Jia risks slipping further in the rankings after missing these events. Last season, he reached the quarter-finals of both the India Open and Indonesia Masters, results he cannot defend this year.
This latest setback highlights the challenges elite shuttlers face in recovering from injuries while maintaining their form and rankings. – January 7, 2025