KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia badminton legend Lee Chong Wei has confirmed that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will not select injured players for the upcoming Thomas Cup, stressing that only fully fit players should compete in the prestigious badminton team tournament.
Lee Chong Wei, who currently serves as chairman of BAM’s Performance Committee, said the Thomas Cup is one of the most important badminton tournaments in the world, and Malaysia cannot afford to take risks by fielding players who are not fully recovered from injuries.
Concern Over Lee Zii Jia’s Injury
One of the main concerns for the Malaysia badminton team is the condition of professional men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury and has not yet joined team training sessions at the Badminton Academy Malaysia (ABM).
Lee Chong Wei said the coaching team is still monitoring Lee Zii Jia’s recovery progress, and national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen will continue providing updates on the player’s condition.
According to Lee Chong Wei, the team needs clear medical updates before making any decisions regarding the Thomas Cup squad.
No Risk Will Be Taken for Thomas Cup
Lee Chong Wei emphasized that BAM will not take any risks by selecting players who are not fully fit, as the Thomas Cup is comparable to the World Cup in football in terms of importance.
He said the team wants every player selected for the tournament to be in peak physical condition and ready to compete at the highest level of badminton.
The National Sports Institute (ISN) is also expected to assist in monitoring Lee Zii Jia’s rehabilitation process to ensure he can return to competition safely and as soon as possible.
Deadline for Thomas Cup Squad Selection
The deadline for submitting the final Thomas Cup team list is April 11, and BAM will make its final decision based on medical reports and the current condition of the players.
If Lee Zii Jia recovers in time, he could still join the national training camp and potentially play an important role as Malaysia’s third singles player during the Thomas Cup.
Malaysia’s top singles players Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh are expected to lead the singles challenge, while the doubles department remains in strong form heading into the tournament.
Malaysia will be hoping that all players remain injury-free as the team prepares for the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark.
Stay tuned for more badminton news and updates from the world of badminton.
