‘IT’S JUST NOT HAPPENING’
Zii Jia is troubled by his inconsistency and believes he’s a late bloomer
NATIONAL men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia is starting to think he might be a late bloomer.
While not using it as an excuse, the 21year-old is beginning to question his inconsistency.
At the start of the season, the World No 13 made four quarter-finals (Thailand Masters, Malaysia Masters, Indonesia Masters and German Open) on the trot but then went on to suffer three early exits
(Swiss Open, Malaysia Open and Singapore Open) after that.
Zii Jia has scalped big names like reigning Olympic champion Chen Long of China, World No 2 Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan and Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto but has lost to lower-ranked players like Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu and Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren Rhustavito in the process.
The Kedah-born said: “I think about this all the time, even before I go to bed every day.
“What is wrong, why am I inconsistent? “Physically, I feel fine. I have also been training very hard but it’s just not happening.
“Sometimes I feel like I don't want to think too much about it but it's not easy. It does play at the back of your head.
“Having said that, I don't want to push myself too much to the point of burning out. Maybe it’s just my pace... perhaps I am a late bloomer.”
Despite his irregular success rate, Zii Jia has still done well to move up the world rankings.
He is now starting to believe that he has what it takes to be a top-10 player.
“Initially, I never thought about it but now I am only three rungs below.
“Having beaten a few top players this year, I am certain I am not far off.
“My main target is to qualify for the Olympics next year, but I also want to see if I can become a top-10 player by the end of the year.
“Right now, I am giving my all in training. Some players do peak at a later stage in their careers,” Zii Jia added.
Zii Jia will get chance to prove that his win over Chen Long two months ago was no fluke when he faces the World No 5 again in the first round of the China Open this week.