PETALING JAYA: Lee Zii Jia’s hopes of returning to competitive badminton after a five-month injury layoff suffered another blow, this time at the China Masters today.
The world No 42 was forced to retire after trailing 6-14 in the rubber game to Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi.
The Malaysian had earlier taken the first game 21-17 but narrowly lost the second 21-23.
Zii Jia had ranked as high as world No 2 previously. However, after early exits at the World Championships and Hong Kong Open, doubts are mounting over his chances of reclaiming his place among the world’s elite.
National doubles shuttlers Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King also fell in the first round, losing to India’s Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy 24-22, 21-13 in 40 minutes.