KUALA LUMPUR: Former national coach Wong Tat Meng believes Malaysia’s men’s singles star Lee Zii Jia must re-establish himself among the world’s elite by the end of this year if he hopes to challenge for another Olympic medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Wong, who worked closely with Lee for 18 months and played a key role in guiding him to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, said the timeline is tight with Olympic qualification points set to come into play from May next year.
“Qualifying for the Olympics is one thing,” Wong said in an interview. “But if the target is to stand on the podium again, he needs to show by the end of this year that he can truly compete with the world’s top players.”
Olympic qualification cycle already looming
With the road to Los Angeles 2028 beginning in earnest next year, Wong stressed that Lee cannot afford a prolonged rebuilding phase. The veteran coach, who recently returned to Malaysia to recuperate after a serious car accident in Australia last year, said convincing results in 2026 are essential.
“Time is a major factor,” Wong noted. “Lee will turn 28 this year. Recovery from injury, rebuilding confidence, and sharpening competitiveness all take time, but the window is not large.”
Despite this, Wong expressed optimism, saying he would be genuinely pleased to see his former protégé return to his best.
“Compared to when I coached him, he hasn’t fully reached that level yet. But it’s clear he’s trying very hard. The first step is overcoming injuries. If he can get through that, everything else becomes possible.”
From power hitter to complete player
Reflecting on their time together, Wong explained how Lee evolved under his guidance from a player heavily reliant on attacking power into a more complete and tactically refined shuttler.
That transformation peaked at the 2024 BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, where Lee was in commanding form before suffering a devastating right ankle injury during the group stage against China’s Li Shifeng.
Lee had been clearly on top in that match before being forced to retire in a wheelchair — a moment Wong described as the beginning of a long and difficult period.
“He became a player with more variation, better tactical awareness, and greater efficiency on court,” Wong said. “At the World Tour Finals, that progress was very clear. Unfortunately, the ending was painful.”
“Seeing that injury take so long to heal was heartbreaking,” he added.
Gradual return, but setbacks remain
Currently ranked outside the world’s top 70, Lee returned to competition last month and has played four consecutive tournaments — the Malaysia Open, India Open, Indonesia Masters, and Thailand Masters — in an effort to regain match sharpness.
At the Thailand Masters, he reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 10 months before being forced to retire in the deciding game against Indonesia’s rising star Alwi Farhan due to injury.
While the exact severity of the latest issue — believed to involve his left ankle — remains unclear, there were encouraging signs as Lee was able to leave the arena without visible distress.
Drawing strength from his former mentor
As Lee continues his long road back toward Olympic contention, Wong’s own recovery journey may serve as quiet inspiration.
The coach survived a serious car accident in Sydney last September and has since made a steady recovery. He is now back on court in Malaysia, coaching at local badminton clubs and sharing his experience with the next generation.
“I hope he can recover fully from this latest setback and come back even stronger,” Wong said. “If he does, that will be the happiest outcome for everyone who believes in him.”
With the Olympic cycle already ticking, the coming months may prove decisive in determining whether Lee Zii Jia can once again rise to the very top of world badminton.
