Timely boost: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh presenting a mock cheque to Lee Zee Jia in Subang Jaya.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: After missing out on the World Tour Finals for the last two years, men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia is determined to get it right this time and qualify for the prestigious season-ending event.
The Tour Finals is set to take place from Dec 11-15 in Hangzhou and Zii Jia is out to make sure that Malaysia will have a men’s singles representative this time.
The independent player received a timely boost when he was awarded RM100,000 under the National Sports Council’s (NSC) incentive scheme (Shakam) for his bronze medal in the Paris Olympics.
The award comes in time for Zii Jia’s last two tournaments before the Tour Finals – the back-to-back Japan Masters (Nov 12-17) and China Masters (Nov 19-24).
The 26-year-old missed the Denmark Open last week after picking up an ankle injury in the quarter-finals of the Arctic Open a week before that but will be fit in time for the Japan and China tourneys.
Zii Jia needs to perform well in both the competitions to be assured of a place in the Tour Finals.
He is currently fifth in the Race to Hangzhou rankings and must remain in the top eight to book his spot in Hangzhou.
“My target is to qualify for the World Tour Finals and it’s only two tournaments left now. I will try to do my best,” said Zii Jia.
“As long as I feel I can play on court, I will compete in tournaments.”
Zii Jia last qualified for the Tour Finals in 2021.
Meanwhile, Zii Jia also expressed his gratitude for the Shakam award and has vowed to fight to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Thanks to Shakam for giving me this award. This means so much to me,” said Zii Jia.
“I will try my best to be in LA 2028.”
Besides Zii Jia, men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik were also rewarded for their bronze in the Paris Games.
Aaron-Wooi Yik received RM200,000 for winning their second bronze in the Olympics after their maiden medal in the 2020 Tokyo edition.
The pair currently look out of the running for the Tour Finals as they are in 12th spot in the Race to Hangzhou rankings but are not giving up just yet.
Aaron-Wooi Yik will play in the Korean Masters from Nov 5-10 as well as the tourneys in Japan and China in a last-ditch attempt to make the cut for Hangzhou.
The duo will probably need to reach the semi-finals or finals in all three tournaments to have any chance of breaking into the top eight and will also need the other pairs above them to underperform.
