Outsmarted: Lee Zii Jia (left) gets ready to return the shuttlecock to China’s Lu Guangzu during the first round of the Malaysian Open. — S.S.KANESAN/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia is fed up of saying that he will come back stronger but has vowed to not give up after suffering another early round exit in the Malaysian Open.
Zii Jia went down fighting 21-16, 19-21, 15-21 to China’s Lu Guangzu in his opening match at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The defeat meant that the independent player has yet to go past the early rounds in the home Open since making his debut in 2019.
“Guangzu’s defence was very effective, especially in the third game,” said Zii Jia.
“I started to lose patience and made mistakes.
“I played quite well in the first and second games but was not consistent in the third game and need to work on this.”
Zii Jia had suffered several early round exits last year before improving towards the later part of the year.
The 25-year-old is determined to stay positive and keep trying to find ways to improve.
“I hate saying I will come back stronger all the time,” said Zii Jia.
“I don’t want to give any excuses but I will stay positive and will never give up.
“I don’t know when I can stand here and say I have succeed but will keep trying again and again.
“I train every day and complete my coach’s programme but there’s no point working hard if it does not translate into success in tournaments. Hopefully, one day I can say I did it.”
On where he felt he needed to improve, Zii Jia said: “I need to be more patient in matches and bring out more of what my coach has been teaching me.
“I didn’t do this enough today (yesterday).
“There are still many tournaments left and I will keep trying (to do well).”
Zii Jia will next turn his attention to the Indian Open starting next week in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, national player Ng Tze Yong will play his first round match today against Japan’s Koki Watanabe.
