KUALA LUMPUR – Professional badminton player Lee Zii Jia wants his family-linked management company dispute to be resolved through the courts, with his immediate priority firmly on returning to the world’s top 50.
Sources from the badminton fraternity and familiar with the matter told Scoop that Zii Jia does not wish to make any public statements on the legal proceedings for now, as he is determined to prevent the matter from affecting his mental focus and performances on court.
“He acknowledges that the situation has happened, but for now, he would prefer to let the legal process take its course rather than make any public statements.
“He does not want the matter to become a distraction or affect him mentally, especially when his main focus is on his badminton career.
“His priority is to concentrate on his game, continue working hard in training and improve his performances. He wants to channel his energy into badminton rather than the ongoing dispute.
“His biggest goal right now is to return to the world’s top 50. That is what he wants to work towards, and he hopes to put himself in the best position possible to achieve that target,” the source told Scoop.
The source added that the former All England champion, who could feature at the Denmark Open in Odense from tomorrow, would prefer to let the court process take its course while focusing on his professional commitments and his bid to climb the world rankings.
Scoop reported on Oct 12 that Zii Jia had applied to the High Court for an interim injunction to prevent his father, Lee Chee Hin, and sister, Lee Zii Yii, from approving certain financial benefits for themselves beyond their monthly salaries or making significant corporate decisions without the court’s permission.
The application is part of a wider dispute over LZJ Management Sdn Bhd, the company responsible for managing aspects of the independent shuttler’s professional career.
In an originating summons filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 2, 2026, Zii Jia named the company, Chee Hin, Zii Yii and his younger brother, Lee Tao, as respondents.
Court documents sighted by Scoop show that Zii Jia claims to hold 90 per cent of the company’s shares, while Zii Yii owns nine per cent and Tao holds the remaining one per cent. Chee Hin and Zii Yii are directors of the company, with Zii Yii also managing her brother’s badminton career.
Besides the injunction, Zii Jia is seeking a court order to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to address matters concerning the company’s management and governance.
In his supporting affidavit, he said an attempt to convene an EGM on Dec 22 last year could not proceed because the required quorum was not achieved.
The originating summons states that “the meeting failed to be conducted properly” and argues that court intervention is necessary because the company is facing a “management and administrative deadlock”.
Zii Jia wants the court to order that the EGM be held within 14 days of the order, or within another period determined by the court. He is also seeking authority to issue and serve the meeting notice and to appoint an independent chairman.
The proposed meeting could consider the removal of existing directors, the appointment of new directors and a company secretary, as well as other corporate matters.
However, the application is being contested by the respondents.
In an affidavit in reply filed on Aug 6, Chee Hin disputed the need for court intervention, maintaining that the company had continued managing matters relating to his son’s professional badminton career.
His affidavit referred to LZJ Management’s four-year agreement with sports brand Victor, covering Jan 1, 2025, to Dec 31, 2028. He argued that the arrangement and its financial contributions were important to the company’s operations and its support for Zii Jia’s career.
Chee Hin’s affidavit also addressed disagreements over payments and the use of Zii Jia’s name and image. A joint affidavit filed on behalf of Zii Yii and Tao likewise disputed the allegations and challenged the relief sought.
The competing positions remain those of the respective parties, with the court to determine the application.
On the badminton court, Zii Jia recently reached the men’s singles semi-finals at the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, before losing to Denmark’s Anders Antonsen.
He had earlier beaten second seed Christo Popov of France 21-11, 21-16 in the quarter-finals, offering encouragement in his bid to return to the world’s top 50 — a target that remains his main focus amid the ongoing legal dispute. – October 13, 2026