KUALA LUMPUR: For fans who have been wondering about Lee Zii Jia’s condition, here is a chance to see him in action in person.
Olympic bronze medallist Zii Jia, who has missed most of this year’s World Tour events, will make a return at the Malaysia Open on Jan 6-11 at the Axiata Arena.
Zii Jia, whose world ranking has plunged due to his protracted absence from the international scene, couldn’t have chosen a more imposing tournament to make his much anticipated comeback.
The independent player will certainly need to be at his best as the Malaysian Open is a prestigious Super 1000 tournament that has attaracted the world’s top 30 elites.
Zii Jia, troubled by a right ankle injury since the World Tour Finals (WTF) in Hangzhou last December and a back injury in recent times, is currently ranked world No. 84 and last played at the China Masters in September where he conceded a walkover to Taiwan’s world No. 13 Lin Chun Yi towards the end of the first-round match.
Although Zii Jia had withdrawn from every tournament he entered since the China Masters, he had also stated on his Instagram his intention of coming back stronger next year.
The strong entry list for the Malaysian Open, led by world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China, means that world No. 30 Leong Jun Hao is the only other Malaysian to make the cut in the men’s singles, while there will be no representatives in the women’s singles.
The men’s doubles field, led by world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea, will have seven Malaysian pairs.
They are world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (No. 4), Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (No. 5), Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King (No. 18), Nur Mohd Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong (No. 28), Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (No. 29) and Choong Hon Jian-Haikal (No. 34).
Women’s doubles world No. 2 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are set to continue their duel with China’s world No. 1 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, with Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing (No. 23) and Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee (No. 33) also competing.
Mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will lead the local challenge, with world No. 9 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (No. 21), Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing (No. 26) and Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien (No. 36) as the Malaysian entries in the event.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
