Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s World No. 6 and the Paris Olympics men’s singles bronze medalist, Lee Zii Jia, announced the departure of two pivotal members from his team: strength coach Lim Joe Heang and head coach Wong Tat Meng.
To commemorate their contributions, Lee gifted them a small cake as a token of gratitude, marking the end of their journey together. This decision also signals the start of a new chapter for Lee, who plans to assemble a completely new team to tackle the 2025 season.
A bond that will forever remain, as we bid farewell to two important members of the team.
All the best and may our path cross again in the future.
TeamLZJ 2024 signing off 🫡 pic.twitter.com/nWSefbkMWy
— Team LZJ (@TeamLZJ) December 23, 2024
Lee had earlier confirmed that his partnership with Wong would officially end on December 31, 2024, bringing an 18-month coaching stint to a close.
Emotional Farewell from Lim Joe Heang
In a heartfelt social media post, Lim reflected on their seven-year journey, recalling Lee’s progression from a promising 19-year-old player to one of the world’s top athletes.
“You’ve come a long way since joining the national team at 19. Back then, [former BAM technical director] Frost singled you out as a key player with the potential to achieve greatness,” wrote Lim.
He also shared the motivation behind Coach Wong’s decision to return from Hong Kong to coach Lee: “When I asked Coach Wong why he left a stable, high-paying job in Hong Kong, he said, ‘Because it’s Lee Zii Jia. The Olympic dream is worth the fight.’”
Lim praised Lee’s resilience and growth, citing his historic All-England title, ascent to World No. 2, and eventual bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. “Though it wasn’t the gold medal we aimed for, this bronze represents your grit and determination. You’ve proved yourself to the world.”
Looking Ahead to 2025
With these departures, Lee will start afresh in 2025. His team reportedly approached Yeoh Kay Bin, a respected Malaysian coach and former Malaysian national player, to fill the coaching vacancy left by Wong.
Yeoh was a former Asian Junior Championship silver medalist and assistant coach under renowned Chinese coach Li Mao. If negotiations proceed smoothly, Yeoh could begin coaching Lee as early as the Malaysia Open 1000 tournament from January 7 to 12, 2025, in Bukit Jalil.
Stay tuned for updates on Lee Zii Jia’s journey as he steps into this new chapter of his career, determined to conquer future challenges on the badminton court.
