Pro Zii Jia wins Olympics bronze medal to prove a point

PETALING JAYA: Men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia clinched bronze in the Paris Olympics after a hard fought win over India’s Lakshya Sen.

World No. 7 Zii Jia came from behind to beat 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lakshya 13-21, 21-16, 21-11 at Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle on Monday (Aug 5).

It was Malaysia’s second medal in the Paris Games after men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik also won bronze on Sunday (Aug 4).

The 26-year-old is also the third Malaysian to win an Olympic medal in the men’s singles after Rashid Sidek (1996 Atlanta Games) and Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who won silver in the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Zii Jia becomes the first Malaysian pro shuttler to win at the Olympics.

“It has been hard…this journey. My ranking dropped and I even struggled to qualify for the Olympics,” said Zii Jia, who became an independent player in 2022.

“I just wanted to prove to myself that I can do it. I’m very proud of myself even though it’s only a bronze.”

Zii Jia admitted he felt like giving up after losing to Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the semi-finals on Sunday.

“To be honest, after I lost the match yesterday (against Kunlavut), I was not sure if I wanted this medal because my goal is only the gold medal,” said Zii Jia.

“How much I wanted to prove myself because the medal that Malaysia have been missing is only gold – we have bronze and a lot of silvers.

“But after I lost, it felt like I have been slapped by Kunlavut from a very good dream.

“I was blank. I could not eat well, sleep well after that

“This morning I did not eat much as well. I was worried about my condition and true enough, I was out of control in the first game.

“Lakshya was in very good form as well and in a good position in the second game but somehow I overcame it and won the game

“It’s an unbelievable journey for me.”