KUALA LUMPUR: The straight-talking Tan Boon Heong has raised questions over Lee Zii Jia’s competitiveness at the Paris World Championships from Aug 25-31.
Boon Heong, a former world No.1 doubles with Koo Kien Keat, said: “Men’s singles… that’s a question mark. A big question mark.
“We don’t really know what Zii Jia’s form is like right now.”
The unseeded Zii Jia is unpredictable and is known for crashing out in the early rounds of tournaments on the World Tour.
However, Boon Heong also said that the enigmatic Zii Jia is capable of delivering something special if he shows no signs of rustiness in his first two matches in Paris.
The independent shuttler is now ranked world No 52 after dropping out of the top 10 after he was sidelined for several months by injury.
Zii Jia faces South Korea‘s world No. 38 Jeon Hyeok Jin in the first round, and if the Malaysian advances, he is likely to meet China‘s world No. 4 Li Shi Feng in the second round.
“He hasn’t competed in quite a while, so he definitely needs to regain that match feeling. That’s why the first and second round matches will be very important.
“If he can get a breakthrough there, then maybe he can go far, he can deliver something special,” said Boon Heong.
Zii Jia, who won an Olympic bronze medal at the same Paris venue last year, holds a 3-1 head-to-head record against Hyeok Jin but trails 4-2 against Shi Feng.
Zii Jia has often proved critics wrong when his back is against the wall, and he looks capable of beating the inconsistent
Shi Feng in their projected second round.
“Those early matches are crucial and the fans are also hoping he can do well,” added Boon Heong
Zii Jia, whose recent Instagram updates suggest he has recovered from his ankle injury, could face another Chinese challenger, world No. 11 Lu Guang Zu, in the third round.
A win there could spark a dream run for Zii Jia, leading to a potential quarter-final showdown with Japan’s world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka, and closer to medal range.
Zii Jia has not won a worlds medal, with a quarter-final finish in Huelva, Spain in 2021 being his best showing to date.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
