KUALA LUMPUR – That is it. Wong Tat Meng and Lee Zii Jia will be parting ways after the World Tour Finals this month.
This follows the decision not to renew the 57-year-old coach’s contract with Team LZJ.
Speculation about Tat Meng’s departure had been circulating since May, as his contract was set to expire following the Paris Olympics.
The announcement was made by Team LZJ on social media today, confirming that the World Tour Finals, which starts on December 11, will be Tat Meng’s final tournament coaching the world number eight.
Although Zii Jia fell short of the target to win a gold medal, his achievement of securing a bronze at the world’s biggest sporting event remains a proud moment for Malaysia.
“It is with a heavy heart and much gratitude that Team LZJ accepts the decision of Coaching Director Wong Tat Meng to pursue a different phase of his coaching career.
“Since joining in July 2023, Coach Tat Meng has been instrumental in guiding Zii Jia back into the world’s top 10, winning titles and bringing home an Olympic bronze medal from Paris 2024.
“Coach Tat Meng will continue to serve with Team LZJ until his contract formally ends on December 31 and is now preparing Zii Jia for the upcoming BWF World Tour Finals,” said Team LZJ in a statement.
As of now, no names have been linked to fill the vacancy, but Team LZJ is expected to make an announcement in due time.
“Team LZJ will appoint a successor to Coach Tat Meng, and an announcement will be made in due time. The team is also preparing for the start of the 2025 season with the next Olympic cycle in mind,” Team LZJ added.
For the record, before coaching Zii Jia, Tat Meng had also coached the teams of Hong Kong, Scotland, Indonesia, and South Korea.
He was also instrumental in developing the talent of South Korea’s women’s singles player, An Se Young, in the early stages of her career. – December 6, 2024