Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s World No. 6, Lee Zii Jia, has officially withdrawn from the Malaysia Open 2025 due to an ongoing ankle injury.
In a statement released on his social media this evening, Team LZJ confirmed that Lee Zii Jia will not participate in the prestigious Super 1000 event, scheduled to run from January 7 to January 12.
Official Statement.#DareToDream #OwnYourAttitude #BeyondTheLimit #ShuttleHard pic.twitter.com/xUcOV70jho
— Team LZJ (@TeamLZJ) January 3, 2025
The team also noted that his participation in upcoming tournaments, including the India Open (Super 750) from January 14 to 19 and the Indonesia Masters (Super 500) from January 21 to 26, will depend on his recovery progress.
“It is with a heavy heart to announce that Lee Zii Jia would not be able to appear at the BWF World Tour 2025 season opener and home tournament, the Malaysia Open.
Zii Jia unfortunately has not fully recovered from the Right Ankle Ligament injury sustained during the BWF World Tour Finals back in December 2024.
His participation for the India Open and Indonesia Masters scheduled in January 2025 are also under consideration, pending to his full recovery.”
A Challenging End to 2024
Lee Zii Jia sustained the injury during the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China. Despite securing a spot in the semifinals by defeating world-class opponents Anders Antonsen and Chou Tien Chen, Lee was forced to retire during his last Group A match against China’s Li Shi Feng. He had been leading 15-11 in the second set after taking the first set 22-20.
Malaysia’s Slim Singles Lineup
With Lee Zii Jia sidelined, Malaysia’s sole representative in the men’s singles category at the Malaysia Open is Leong Jun Hao. Currently ranked 29th in the world, Leong faces a challenging opener against China’s Lu Guang Zu in the first round.
The Malaysia Open 2025, a Super 1000 event offering a total prize pool of USD $1.45 million (approximately RM6.52 million), will serve as the first tournament for the new BWF World Tour season.
Looking Ahead
Fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring Lee Zii Jia’s recovery, as his participation in January’s tournaments remains uncertain. His absence at the Malaysia Open highlights the intense physical demands of professional badminton and the challenges athletes face in maintaining peak condition.
Stay updated with the latest badminton news and coverage of the Malaysia Open 2025 at BadmintonPlanet.com.
