KUALA LUMPUR – Independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has the right to demand compensation to represent Malaysia at the Thomas Cup, according to sports analyst Mohd Sadek Mustafa.
Speaking to Scoop, Sadek said that fans should respect the world number 11’s request because he is an independent player and he has his obligations to fulfil.
“Furthermore, he is not a Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) player anymore, where everything is taken care of.
“BAM players don’t have the same rights to demand image rights compensation as everything they need is taken care of by the national body.
“This is a right that professional players like Zii Jia can demand. This should not be an issue as he has clauses with his sponsors, which need to be set aside when representing the nation.
“These terms and conditions are not made known to the public, so fans should not condemn him without knowing what is really going on.
“This is his livelihood; every appearance he makes, whether his rankings rise or drop… all this will impact his earnings,” said the Universiti Teknologi Mara Sports Science lecturer.
Sadek added that the precedent has been there all along, but with this issue coming to light, fans should have a better understanding of the situation, adding that a professional athlete’s career might last 15 years at most, and with badminton players, as soon as they hit 30, their performance will start to decline.
“This also depends on the fitness of the athlete and the absence of injury, which can help prolong their career.
“So, Zii Jia has every right to gather his eggs to continue his life in the future after his playing career is over; we have to respect that.
“We don’t want the same situation as professional squash player Kenneth Low to repeat.
“The livelihood of professionals is not guaranteed until they are 60, so they have to plan their finances accordingly during their playing career,” said Sadek.
Last year, the sports fraternity was shocked by the revelation that former six-time national squash champion Low was working as a cleaner in poverty while struggling with health issues.
Earlier today, BAM announced that Zii Jia will represent the nation at the Thomas Cup after doubts emerged about his participation in the premier men’s team competition.
It was then reported that he will receive compensation to don the national colours in Chengdu, China where the tournament will be played from April 28 until May 5.
This became a heated topic among fans, with BAM and Zii Jia on the receiving end.
Supporters of the player criticised the national body for leaking details of the negotiations, while others panned the Kedahan for demanding payment to represent the country.
This led to the 26-year-old’s management releasing a media statement explaining that Zii Jia’s participation in the Thomas Cup was never in doubt; it was just a matter of negotiating “image rights”.
“Zii Jia and Team LZJ are always very proud to serve the country, but we also value the importance of image rights, which are essential for an independent athlete.
“We are very glad that BAM recognises this and is supportive of professional athletes,” the statement read. – April 12, 2024