KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia will continue with the training programme planned by TeamLZJ’s coaching director Wong Tat Meng to prepare for the Thomas Cup 2024 in Chengdu, China from April 27 to May 5.
TeamLZJ, in a statement on X today, said Zii Jia’s training programme, which is independent of the Thomas Cup team, has been discussed with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and is supported by Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky and administration head Michelle Chai.
It said the training programme and arrangements planned by Tat Meng will prepare Zii Jia to perform his best during the Thomas Cup and the five tournaments he plans to participate in after that.
TeamLZJ thanked BAM, Rexy and Michelle for their understanding and trust in managing Zii Jia’s training plan in this hectic tournament schedule leading up to the Paris Olympics.
“Zii Jia is very much looking forward to link up with the squad on April 24,” it said.
The statement said Zii Jia started his Thomas Cup preparations on Monday, one day after returning from the Badminton Asia Championships 2024 in Ningbo, China.
BAM have also named Ng Tze Yong, Leong Jun Hao, Cheam June Wei and Justin Hoh for singles duty while the doubles will be spearheaded by 2022 world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, followed by Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Muhammad Haikal Nazri.
Meanwhile, Rexy said he learnt of their training plan at a recent meeting with Team LZJ which was attended by Tat Meng and Zi Jia’s manager Lee Zii Yii.
“They (Tat Meng and Zii Yii) told me they have only one week to prepare after returning from BAC, so we try to think positively about this situation. This is not a time to point fingers because we have only seven days left.
“We have to appreciate their commitment to play. Those (accredited coaches) going are Datuk Tey Seu Bock and Tat Meng,” he told the press after a training session at ABM in Bukit Kiara today.
When asked if any team-building sessions would be held outside of the Federal capital, Rexy said it would be more effective to have training involving the whole team.
Malaysia is seeded fifth and placed in Group D with 2016 champions Denmark, Hong Kong and Algeria for the Thomas Cup 2024.
He added that professional player Goh Jin Wei will join the national team’s training to prepare for the Uber Cup 2024.
Apart from Jin Wei, BAM has also selected K. Letshanaa, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Wong Ling Ching, Siti Zulaikha Azmi, Teoh Mei Xing, Go Pei Kee, Tan Zhing Yi, Ho Le Ee, and Chan Wen Tse for the Uber Cup.
Malaysia will face an uphill task in the world women’s team championship as they have been drawn in Group B, together with Thailand, Taiwan, and Australia.
— Bernama
