Something to ponder: Lee Zii Jia can learn from how Datuk Rashid Sidek overcame two world champions on his way to winning the bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia can write his own script at the Paris Olympics if he invests some time on analysing his potential rivals at the knockout stage.
It was this additional effort that helped Datuk Rashid Sidek to become Malaysia’s first medallist in the men’s singles in 1996.
And Rashid is hoping that Zii Jia, who is Malaysia’s sole representative in the men’s singles in Paris Games, will do enough homework of his foes.
Rashid, at 28, wasn’t given much hope against top seed and 1993 world champion Joko Suprianto of Indonesia in their quarter-final clash at the Atlanta Games.
His record against world No. 1 Joko wasn’t good as Rashid had lost six consecutive times and the head-to-head record stood at 2-8.
However, Rashid had done his homework and believed he could turn things around and did exactly that, winning 15-5, 15-12 to reach the semi-finals.
Despite losing to Dong Jiong of China (6-15, 16-18) in the last four, Rashid bounced back to beat Indonesia’s 1995 world champion Hariyanto Arbi (5-15, 15-11, 15-6) to secure the bronze.
Rashid said that early analysis was the key to overcome two world champions on his way to the bronze medal.
Likewise, Rashid believes Zii Jia could also benefit by doing some meticulous preparation outside the court on his potential rivals like Anthony Ginting of Indonesia (last 16) and Denmark’s Anders Antonsen (last eight) during the final days before the competition gets under way at the Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle on July 27.
“Zii Jia has possibly done most of his preparation on court but analysing his potential opponents in the knockout stage will be very crucial. If he can do some homework, this could be his Olympics,” said Rashid.
“Analysis will provide us with the finer details on our opponents as we need to be assured when we play them. Our mind will be clear with our game plan and we will be more prepared to catch our rivals off guard.
“Ginting has a better record but video analysis can always give that additional info for Zii Jia to overcome the Indonesian player and also Antonsen who has a better record.
“Once he gets into the semi-finals, Zii Jia will be totally motivated and it will be easier to focus on his objective of going for gold.
“In 1996, I wasn’t given much of a chance against Joko as I had not beaten him in four years prior to the Olympics but a bit of analysis on Joko made me battle with a clear mind.
“I could have given up after losing to Dong Jiong in the semi-finals but I fought back. I had lost seven times in a row to Hariyanto before beating him for the bronze.
“Zii Jia should be in peak condition when it comes to on-court and physical preparation but the sufficient time on video analysis and tactics during these final days will serve him better.”
Zii Jia should have no problems getting past the group stage where he is with Pablo Abian of Spain and Viren Nettasinghe of Sri Lanka.
Ginting is in Group H with Toma Popov of France and American Howard Shu while Antonsen is in Group G with Collins Filimon of Romania and Ade Resky of Azerbaijan.
Rashid also feels that Zii Jia has been hitting form nicely after having won the Thailand and Australian Opens and finishing runners-up in the Malaysian Masters this year.
Zii Jia has a 1-5 head-to-head record against Ginting while Antonsen also has a better record (5-3) against the Malaysian.
However, Rashid believes match analysis should give Zii Jia a headstart with his rivals and put him in a positive frame of mind in Paris.
