KUALA LUMPUR — Fans of Malaysia’s top men’s singles star, Lee Zii Jia, may have to wait longer to see him in action, as he is unlikely to be part of the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) squad next month.
A reliable source told Scoop today that the 26-year-old world number eight is expected to miss the Sudirman Cup qualifier, scheduled from February 11 to 16 in Qingdao, China.
Zii Jia, the 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist, has yet to compete this season after sustaining an ankle ligament injury during the group stages of the World Tour Finals last month.
However, it is unclear if the injury is the sole reason for his expected omission. Zii Jia last represented Malaysia in a team event at the Thomas Cup in Chengdu, China, last April.
“Zii Jia is likely out, while the squad will consist of a mix of young and senior players,” the source said.
This opens the door for top-performing independent players, such as newly crowned India Open men’s doubles champions Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, or even the mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai, to be considered for the tournament.
With Zii Jia likely unavailable and Ng Tze Yong yet to return to competition after a year out, Malaysia’s men’s singles options are limited to world number 28 Leong Jun Hao, world number 53 Justin Hoh, and world number 55 Cheam June Wei.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are expected to announce the final squad this week. The team can comprise up to 16 players, with eight men and eight women.
Malaysia have been drawn into Group B alongside Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Kazakhstan. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, while only the top four teams overall will earn automatic qualification for the Sudirman Cup. — January 20, 2025