KUALA LUMPUR – Even before the 2024 Paris Olympics in August, speculation was rife about whether Wong Tat Meng would continue coaching Malaysia’s men’s singles star, Lee Zii Jia, beyond this season.
When Tat Meng joined Zii Jia’s professional Team LZJ mid-last year, he reportedly signed a contract running until the end of 2024. Prior to this, Tat Meng stated that he would decide on a contract extension when the time came.
However, following Zii Jia’s inconsistent performances since clinching Olympic bronze in Paris, it remains uncertain whether the 26-year-old shuttler himself wants to maintain the partnership.
Zii Jia has struggled for form, suffering two first-round exits since the Olympics. Today, he crashed out in the quarter-finals of the Super 500 Kumamoto Masters after a 12-21, 21-18, 21-18 defeat to Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie.
Last month, Zii Jia also failed to progress past the quarter-finals of the Super 500 Arctic Open, raising further questions about his trajectory and plans moving forward.
Former Malaysian international Datuk James Selvaraj told Scoop that changes could be on the cards for Team LZJ.
He highlighted the challenges of the current badminton landscape, where top coaches are hesitant to commit, especially with independent players.
The Times of India recently reported that Indonesia’s leading men’s singles coach, Irwansyah Adi Pratama, will soon join the Badminton Association of India (BAI) as singles head coach, while Denmark’s Kenneth Jonassen is heavily linked to taking up a similar role with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
“Everyone is focusing on whether Tat Meng will stay with Team LZJ, but what if Zii Jia himself decides he no longer wants to work with him?
“Zii Jia’s inconsistency could lead him to seek a new coach.
“That’s not to say Tat Meng isn’t good – he’s an excellent coach with a strong track record – but perhaps his methods don’t quite match Zii Jia’s style.
“The bigger question is, which top coach is even available? BAM is already struggling to secure one, so it will be even harder for a professional player like Zii Jia,” said James, who served as BAM’s high-performance director from 2010 to 2012.
Before Tat Meng’s arrival, Zii Jia was briefly coached by Indonesian Indra Wijaya until November 2022.
Meanwhile, in the Kumamoto Masters men’s doubles quarter-finals, independent duo Nur Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong continued their fairytale run. The pair stunned two-time Olympic champion Wang Chi-Lin and his new partner Chiu Hsiang Chieh of Chinese Taipei, winning 21-19, 21-19.
Azriyn and Wee Kiong will next face former world champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi of Japan in the semi-finals.
In mixed doubles, independent stars Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai advanced to the semi-finals with a commanding 21-16, 21-13 victory over Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito. They will now face Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran for a spot in the final.
The Thai scratch pair defeated Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin 21-17, 21-16 in their quarter-final encounter. — November 15, 2024
