Lee Zii Jia’s game improving but puzzling to analyst
KUALA LUMPUR: The performance displayed by professional singles player Lee Zii Jia seems to be improving despite his journey coming to an end at the quarter-finals stage of the 2024 All England Championships in Birmingham on Friday.
Former national player, Datuk James Selvaraj said Zii Jia’s defeat at the hands of India’s Lakshya Sen could have been avoided if the 25-year-old had wisely utilised his smashing strength to ‘finish off’ his opponent at the Utilita Arena Birmingham.
Although leading in the first set, 22-20, the world number 10 player failed to maintain the winning streak and was subsequently defeated in the next two sets by Lakshya, 16-21, 19-21.
“I saw Lakshya playing it simple, his smashes weren’t that powerful, but Zii Jia with his height and perhaps the strongest smash among players at the All England 2024 didn’t use his advantage yesterday.
“Why didn’t Zii Jia use his smash? Opponents must surely fear his smash. This is a decision that is very detrimental, I don’t know how he lost because I thought he could advance to the final and lift the title,” James said when contacted by Bernama.
James, puzzled by Zii Jia’s elimination, acknowledged his belief that the world number 10 player would clinch his second personal title at the oldest badminton championship in the world after the 2021 edition, when he stylishly defeated the world number six player from Japan, Kodai Naraoka in the opening round and former 2021 world champion, Loh Kean Yew from Singapore in the second round.
“He definitely played much better in All England 2024 (so far this year) because he managed to overcome seasoned players like Naraoka and Kean Yew.
“Based on the game against Naraoka, particularly with the Japanese player who enjoys playing rallies, but Zii Jia often uses his smashing strength to beat his opponent, but it was different when facing Lakshya,” he said.
Throughout his five appearances in individual championships this year, the former Badminton Asia Championship (BAC) 2022 champion has advanced to the quarter-finals three times including at the 2024 All England Championships, while being eliminated in the early rounds, in the first round twice including at the Malaysian Open last January.