PETALING JAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has affirmed the National Sports Institute’s (NSI) readiness to support badminton player Lee Zii Jia’s recovery following his decision to conclude his 2024 competitive season due to injury. Zii Jia, 27, has been sidelined by ankle and back pain, prompting him to withdraw from the Syed Modi India International tournament, effectively ending his participation for the year.
yeoh stated the NSI’s resources are available to Zii Jia should he require them,encouraging him to reach out to P. Vellapandian at the NSI for assistance. “For the NSI, we are ready to help Zii Jia if he needs anything,” she said yesterday. “Zii Jia can contact P. Vellapandian from the NSI, and anytime, we will help Zii Jia.”
The shuttler revealed on social media that medical advice following his last tournament, the China masters in September, led him to prioritize recovery and shift his competitive focus to 2026. Yeoh emphasized the importance of Zii Jia utilizing this downtime for full recovery, noting the demanding nature of the badminton schedule and the risk of burnout if injuries are not properly addressed.
“I pray that Zii Jia will recover during this break time. it’s very crucial to come back refreshed for next year,” Yeoh said. “We know that the badminton schedule can be very packed, and if there is an injury and thay don’t recover properly, eventually they will burn out. That’s why we want to make sure Zii Jia uses this time to find some peace and come back next year with a renewed sense of purpose for his tournaments.”
Zii Jia has expressed hope to be fully recovered in time for the Malaysian open in January. He also shared that the challenges of the past year, both physically and emotionally, have inspired a new passion for art.