For Malaysia, Another Lee Rises
At 22, Lee Zii Jia is one of the faces of badminton’s young generation of elite shuttlers.
· DEV SUKUMAR
After promising – if somewhat inconsistent – performances last year, the Malaysian seemed to get his act together during the early season in 2020.
Victories over Anders Antonsen and Shi Yu Qi saw him make the semifinals of his home event, the Malaysia Masters; he led Malaysia into the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships; then, at his debut All England, he came within a whisker of making the final.
His performances during that week in Birmingham, which included victories over Jonatan Christie and Chen Long, showed he is fast evolving into one of the world’s best. The tall, attacking Malaysian displayed traits essential to success in the big league – an ability to absorb pressure over long spells, which required patient, error-free play, great defence, and a sense of opportunism.