Lee Zii Jia: Image Rights Waived for Thomas Cup Badminton Duty | Malaysia 2026

Kuala Lumpur – Lee Zii Jia has agreed to join Malaysia’s squad for the upcoming Thomas Cup, according to a statement released Tuesday by Team LZJ, resolving a period of negotiation with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). The professional men’s singles shuttler will waive any image rights fees in order to represent the country at the tournament, signaling a commitment to national representation.

The agreement follows discussions last week between Zii Jia and BAM Performance Committee Chairman, Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, at the Malaysian Badminton Academy in Bukit Kiara. Initial reports indicated Zii Jia had presented conditions for his participation, prompting concern within BAM as the deadline for submitting the official squad list to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) approaches in April.

“He would like to take this opportunity to express his appreciation to BAM President Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and BAM Head of the Performance Committee, Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, for the trust and confidence placed in him to contribute to the nation,” Team LZJ stated. The statement suggests a renewed collaborative spirit between Zii Jia and the governing body.

This isn’t the first instance of negotiation surrounding Zii Jia’s participation in a major tournament. During the 2024 Thomas Cup in Chengdu, China, his camp reportedly requested compensation for image rights, a request that sparked public debate regarding the balance between a player’s professional interests and national duty. The current agreement represents a departure from that previous stance.

The Thomas Cup 2026 is scheduled to be held in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3. BAM officials have indicated that further details regarding the full squad composition will be announced in the coming days. Zii Jia’s final answer was expected by Friday, February 27th, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.