Badminton News: Men’s singles badminton, Lee Zii Jia wants to achieve what Malaysian players have never done before, which is to win the badminton world title.
The men’s singles heatstroke told the Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday that his eyes were on the grand prix when the World Championships take place in Tokyo tomorrow.
After winning the Asian Championships in May, the 24-year-old is now looking to etch his name in the history books.
“Malaysia has never won Olympic gold or world championship title (in badminton). Of course, I want to be the first to win it,” said Zii Jia.
“I hope I can do my best so that we can see good results this week,” added the Kedah-born player, who will open the competition against Frenchman Brice Leverdez in the first round.
Lee Zii Jia, who turned professional in January, recently sparked controversy when he chose to miss the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last month.
In his defence, the former English champion said he decided to do so to recover from a minor hip injury in time for the world championships.
“My injury was not serious and I feel good now. As I mentioned earlier, I hope to do well in this tournament,” added Zii Jia, who in addition to winning the Open de Thailand in May also inspired Malaysia to the Asian Tag Team Championship (BATC) title in historic February.
If Lee Zii Jia wins the world crown, he will surpass what former world number 1 Lee Chong Wei achieved with three silver medals (2011, 2013 and 2015).
Lee Zii Jia, who has never made it past the quarter-finals before, is in the same round as world number 2 Kento Momota, Indian Cup heroes Thomas K. Srikanth, Lakshya Sen and world number 3 HS Prannoy Anders Antonsen and Singapore champion Loh Kean Yew.
Other Malaysian players competing are Commonwealth Games silver medalists Ng Yze Yong and Liew Daren.
Tze Yong, who excelled for Zii Jia in Birmingham, will face Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia in the first round, while Daren will face world number 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.
This year’s world championships will be held at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan.
Tags: Lee Zii Jia, viktor axelsen, world championship 2022
Published by Ligaolahraga.com at https://www.ligaolahraga.com/badminton/after-juara-asia-lee-zii-jia-targetkan-gelar-juara-dunia
