KUALA LUMPUR — While he is not obliged to do so as an independent player, former BAM high-performance director Datuk James Selvaraj has called on Lee Zii Jia to be open about his struggles, insisting it is the only way for the men's singles shuttler to receive the help he needs.
James' comments came after the 2021 All England champion's name was marked as 'withdrawn' from the Kumamoto Masters in Japan, which is scheduled from November 11 to 16.
"I have been saying this over and over again. Zii Jia is a good player and on his day, it’s very difficult for anyone to take him," said James.
"However, he is going through a phase right now which only he can answer. We don’t know if his physical condition is not at its best, or if he’s struggling from a mental issue."
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) mobile app confirmed the latest withdrawal, which adds to a growing list of top players pulling out from the Super 500 event, including Denmark's defending champion Viktor Axelsen, his compatriot Anders Antosen, Indonesia's Jonatan Christie and Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, as well as India's K. Srikanth.
James urged the 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medallist to be upfront about his situation.
"I urge him to be truthful. Only he can come out to address what is wrong," he added.
He suggested that if the professional player requires support, he should not hesitate to approach the relevant national bodies.
"If he needs assistance, then get in touch with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh, or the National Sports Institute (NSI)."
This recent withdrawal marks another setback in what has been a challenging season for Zii Jia. On October 1, his professional outfit Team LZJ, announced that he had been advised by medical experts to undergo an extended rehabilitation programme for persistent lower back pain.
Consequently, he missed three tournaments on the European circuit - the Denmark Open, French Open, and Hylo Open.
"Right now, I believe he knows that he is not ready to return to competitive action and therefore has withdrawn from the Kumamoto Masters," James noted.
"But this pattern (withdrawing) cannot go on."
Zii Jia's last competitive outing was at the 2025 China Masters in September. He was forced to retire in the deciding game of his first-round match against Taiwan’s Lin Chun-Yi while trailing 6–14, after having won the first set 21–17 and narrowly losing the second 23–21.
As of now, Team LZJ has not released a statement explaining the reason for his withdrawal from the tournament in Japan. - November 5, 2025
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