KUALA LUMPUR: Former world No. 1 Roslin Hashim has urged Lee Zii Jia to consider a short-term collaboration with the BA of Malaysia (BAM) to revive his career after his World Championships flop.
Zii Jia crashed out in the opening round on Monday, losing 21-17, 21-11 to South Korea‘s world No. 38 Jeon Hyeok Jin at the Adidas Arena in Paris.
The independent shuttler has been struggling since suffering an ankle injury at the World Tour Finals in December, which limited him to just two tournaments this year — the Orleans Open and the All England in March — before Paris.
The layoff saw him slide to world No. 52, though he still holds a protected ranking of No. 9.Roslin said a full return to BAM may not be necessary, but suggested a part-time arrangement — such as training at the Academy Badminton Malaysia two or three times a week — could provide the structured support he currently lacks.
“Even if it’s not every day, just having access to coaches and sparring partners would make a difference,” Roslin told Timesport on Tuesday.
“At the professional level, sparring is very important. Besides training programmes, having quality opponents in practice can sharpen a player.”
He questioned whether Zii Jia’s current set-up offers enough quality sparring to remain competitive at the highest level.
“In singles especially, sparring partners play a big role. We don’t really know who he is training with now, and that might be one reason why his performance is inconsistent,” he added.
Zii Jia has also admitted he suffered from depression during the five months he spent recovering from injury, saying that travelling and developing an interest in art helped him cope.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh has previously said the national body is ready to assist Zii Jia in any way, while National Sports Institute chief executive officer Dr P. Vellapandian has also offered psychological support.
Roslin stressed that even limited training with BAM would give Zii Jia access not only to sparring and coaching but also to sports science and mental health expertise.
However, he acknowledged that the 27-year-old’s sponsorship commitments as an independent player may complicate a full return, making part-time training a more realistic option.
“At the end of the day, it’s about what’s best for his career,” said Roslin.
“He’s still at a good age, but without the right structure and sparring, it will be tough to compete with the best in the world.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
