KUALA LUMPUR — Is Lee Zii Jia genuinely unprepared to compete at the Japan Open later this month, or does his sudden withdrawal from the Super 750 tournament hint at something deeper?
Malaysian badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek believes both possibilities are on the table.
Speaking to Scoop, the 1992 Thomas Cup winner said Zii Jia alone knows whether he is physically ready to return to high-level action.
“As we all know, Zii Jia has hardly played this season. We don’t really know about his preparations or how ready he is for intense matches. Perhaps that is why he decided to pull out of the Japan Open,” Rashid said.
“However, if he also withdraws from the China Open, which is just a week later, then perhaps his condition is worse than expected.
“If Zii Jia skips the China Open, I’m afraid he won’t be in the best shape for the World Championships next month. He won’t have the confidence or the match temperament,” added Rashid, himself a former Olympic bronze medallist — just like Zii Jia.
For now, the real reason behind the 26-year-old’s latest withdrawal remains unclear, with his camp, Team LZJ, yet to release any official explanation.
The timing, however, comes amid a rough patch in Zii Jia’s career. Since sustaining an ankle injury at the World Tour Finals last December, he has struggled with early-round exits, tournament withdrawals and patchy form.
Last week, fans raised fresh concerns about his condition after he posted a series of cryptic drawings on social media, fuelling speculation over his mental and physical state.
The post drew thousands of comments and prompted a response from the National Sports Council, which urged the public not to overreact.
Zii Jia’s world ranking has since plummeted to No. 27, further amplifying doubts about his ability to regain his form in time for the World Championships in Paris next month.
The deadline to withdraw from the Japan Open is tomorrow, followed by the China Open on July 15. The final cut-off for the World Championships — scheduled for August 25–31 at the Adidas Arena — is August 12.
Malaysia’s best-ever men’s singles performer at the World Championships remains former world No. 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who won three silver medals and one bronze.
Wong Choong Hann is the only other Malaysian to reach the final, while Liew Daren — Zii Jia’s former assistant coach — remains the last to reach the podium with a bronze in 2018. – July 7, 2025