Birthday greetings are in order because national badminton star Lee Zii Jia turns 23 today! (March 29)
He marks the occasion just over a week after winning his very first All England title.
Photo via Olympic Channel
The shuttler spoke to Astro Radio News recently and told us that he’s hoping wisdom (and more success) will follow age, especially on the court.
“Now that I’m 23, I’m hoping to be more mature in my performances.”
“I’m also hoping that in my 23rd year I can rise up the world rankings to fifth place,” said the current world number eight.
Since winning the All England, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Zii Jia can follow it up with a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
He admits this is something he thinks about as well.
“After winning the All England… yes, I’m more confident for the Olympics.”
“But I also need to develop my game further. Some of my performances in the past have not been very stable,” the shuttler concedes.
Of course, winning a medal in Tokyo will no doubt lead to comparisons to Malaysia’s three-time Olympic silver medalist, Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
Photo via Facebook (Lee Chong Wei)
People have already been calling Zii Jia ‘the next Chong Wei’ since his All England triumph.
However, this is a comparison he’s not particularly fond of.
“No disrespect to Chong Wei, but I don’t think it is right that people compare the two of us.”
“What he’s achieved over his career, I don’t think anyone else can replicate. Not even in the next 20 years.”
“Different people have a different journey. I have my own journey. And I just want to be myself,” Zii Jia explains.
Wise words indeed, from the 23-year-old.
By: Nicholas Darren John
