All that fuss: Lee Zii Jia having a discussion with Soh Wooi Yik after a joint training session before the Asian Mixed Team Championships at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara in February.
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Lee Chong Wei has always been a loyal player.
The former men’s singles great always followed the rules set by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) during his playing days regardless of how challenging it can be.
And that’s why Chong Wei is frustrated with independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s attitude.
The three-time Olympics silver medallist expressed his disappointment with world No. 13 Zii Jia and his coach Wong Tat Meng for hitting out at the BAM, following the national body’s rule that independent players can only train at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) at Bukit Kiara once a week if they wear the apparel of sponsors Yonex.
Yonex is BAM’s official sponsor while Zii Jia is funded by Victor.
“BAM have made it clear that the independent players can don plain apparel,” said Chong Wei.
“The players just can’t wear apparel with sports equipment sponsors’ logos other than Yonex.
“At first, they allowed the players to wear any apparel but Yonex has strict rules.
“I don’t understand why Zii Jia and his coach are now making a big fuss over this.
“You need to follow the rules if you want to train in BAM.
“It was Zii Jia’s own choice to leave BAM but they are opening their doors now to allow him and the other professional players to train once or twice a week, and he still wants to create an issue.
“The other professional players like Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (men’s doubles) and Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles) are not complaining, so why is he and his coach, who only joined him a month ago, getting angry?”
Chong Wei has his reasons to voice out as he was the one who suggested to BAM to allow independent players to train once or twice a week at ABM.
Chong Wei is a member of the Road to Gold (RTG) Paris Olympics programme.
“As a member of RTG, I had proposed to Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and BAM president Tan Sri Norza (Zakaria) and to allow the independent players to spar with the national players once or twice a week,” said Chong Wei.
“This is for the good of our country’s badminton.
“Zii Jia needs to think of BAM and the other players too.
“He can’t always be selfish and think about himself.
“I have never spoken out about any of his issues in the past but this time it’s one time too many.
“He is our best bet to win gold in the Paris Olympics but he needs to cooperate with BAM and others if he wants to succeed.”
The World Championships will take place next week in Copenhagen and this issue is the last thing Zii Jia needs with the prestigious meet just around the corner.
