Persistent back injury forces Zii Jia out of Macau Open

KUALA LUMPUR: National shuttler Lee Zii Jia has withdrawn from the Macau Open next week due to a persistent lower back injury.

National singles coach Datuk Misbun Sidek said the withdrawal is just a precautionary step to ensure that the Taiwan Open champion has a good rehabilitation before returning to action.

The 20-year-old was set to face the second seed, Hong Kong’s Vincent Wong, in the first round.

“I’ve withdrawn him because his lower back is a bit stiff. Even at the Taiwan Open, he felt it a bit,” said Misbun.

“It’s only a stiffness that comes on and off, which is why now in training he is wearing a back support belt as a precaution.’

The 20-year-old gave an inspiring performance in Taiwan to lift the trophy by overcoming home favourite and world No. 4 Chou Tien-chen in the last four before defeating Japan’s Riichi Takeshita in the final.

With the win, Zii Jia also became only the second Malaysian – after Lee Chong Wei – to win a Badminton World Federation (BWF) top-flight men’s singles title since 2013.

Despite the withdrawal from the Macau Open, the youngster is optimistic about a return to the badminton scene next month at the Korean Masters in Gwangju on Nov 27.

“I’m still in rehabilitation for almost a month. I should be back for the Korean Masters,” said Zii Jia, who suffered the injury a month ago when he slipped during a training session.

“In the Taiwan Open, I suffered a bit from the injury. It was a bit painful both before and after the tournament but I just tried to play through it.”