KUALA LUMPUR — If Lee Zii Jia decides to skip the upcoming World Championships in Paris (August 20–28), it could pave the way for 21-year-old Justin Hoh to make a dream debut.
Justin, currently on the reserve list, is among those on standby. And while the chances of getting in via the regular route are slim — about 18 withdrawals would need to happen — things might be different if Zii Jia or Leong Jun Hao, the two Malaysians already in, opt out.
Right now, the spotlight is firmly on Zii Jia. He had accepted the invitation to play in Paris, but that was back during the first phase of qualifiers (April–May), before pulling out of both the Japan and China Opens last month.
Since then, it’s been radio silence from his camp, with no confirmation on his fitness. The 27-year-old is believed to still be recovering from an ankle injury suffered at the World Tour Finals last December.
What’s added to the uncertainty is a series of introspective sketches on social media, which some interpret as signs of ongoing mental health struggles.
Zii Jia has received backing from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, the National Sports Institute (NSI), and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), but he has yet to make any public comments.
He’s only played in two tournaments this year — the Orleans Masters and All England back in March — and hasn’t appeared on court since, apart from sponsors’ events.
Still, he retains a protected BWF ranking of No. 9, even though he has dropped out of the world top 30 in the current men’s singles standings.
If Zii Jia isn’t ready — physically or mentally — the wise thing might be to skip Paris. And if that happens, Justin could be next in line.
Under Badminton World Federation (BWF) rules, a country is allowed to send up to two players per singles event, as long as they’re ranked between No. 25 and 150.
World No. 45 Justin has been in good form too, just reaching his first World Tour final at the Macau Open on Sunday. And next week, he’ll be heading to Denmark for a five-day training stint alongside BAM head coach Kenneth Jonassen and other World Championships-bound shuttlers like Jun Hao and K. Letshanaa.
Even though he’s not confirmed for the world meet yet, training with Denmark’s top players could still be a huge boost — and if he finds out soon that he’s going, it would only fire him up more.
This isn’t to say Zii Jia should give up his spot. If he’s fit, he still has what it takes to upset the bookmakers, maybe even win the world title. But given his long layoff and lack of match fitness, it won’t be easy.
For now, Zii Jia has until August 12 to make the call. A timely decision could be crucial — not just for Justin’s preparation, but for Malaysia’s prospects in Paris. — August 4, 2025