Malaysia pins hopes on badminton star Lee Zii Jia to win its first Olympic gold medal
- The 23-year-old won the All England Open in March and is seen as a medal contender in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
- He has been compared to legendary Malaysian shuttler Lee Chong Wei, who won three silver Olympic medals and retired in 2019
The 23-year-old was immediately dubbed a successor to legendary shuttler Lee Chong Wei, who set the world record for being the top player in the Badminton World Federation for 349 consecutive weeks and had won three silver Olympic medals by the time he retired in 2019.
But there are even bigger expectations for Zii Jia – bringing home Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal. Eight of the country’s 11 Olympic medals are for badminton.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) coaching director Wong Choong Hann said despite the frustrations from restricted training and tournaments, Zii Jia’s coaching team is focused on helping him strengthen his character.
“When you build strong-minded and strong-willed athletes, they will be equipped with the necessary skills to challenge titles and medals,” Wong told This Week in Asia.
Zii Jia’s victories against top-ranking players in the All England Open in March boosted his confidence, especially after beating Danish shuttler Victor Axelsen in the men’s singles final after previously losing to him.
