Malaysian badminton ace Lee Zii Jia has withdrawn from the 2025 Kumamoto Masters Japan, extending his spell on the sidelines as he continues to recover from a persistent lower back injury.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed that the independent men’s singles shuttler has been officially marked as ‘withdrawn’ from the Super 500 tournament, scheduled to take place from November 11 to 16 at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.
Lee’s name joins a list of high-profile absentees that includes Paris 2024 Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, Anders Antonsen, and Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie and Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.
Lee Zii Jia Struggle With Injuries
While Team LZJ has yet to release a new statement on the withdrawal, the 27-year-old’s struggles with back pain have been well documented in recent months.
On October 1, his management confirmed via Instagram that medical experts had advised Lee to undergo an extended rehabilitation programme to treat persistent low back pain. This has already forced the Paris 2024 bronze medallist to miss three European events- the Denmark Open, French Open, and Hylo Open.
Lee’s last competitive appearance came at the 2025 China Masters in September, where he was forced to retire midway through his first-round match against Taiwan’s Lin Chun-Yi. After taking the opening game 21–17 and narrowly losing the second 21–23, Lee was trailing 6–14 in the decider when he pulled out due to pain.
Calls for Transparency
Former Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) high-performance director Datuk James Selvaraj has urged Lee to be transparent about his condition, stressing that openness is key to securing the right support.
“I have been saying this over and over again- Zii Jia is a good player, and on his day, he is very difficult to beat,” said James.
“But he’s clearly going through a difficult phase right now. We don’t know if it’s purely physical or if he’s also struggling mentally. Only he can come forward and clarify what’s really going on.”
James added that if the former All England champion requires additional assistance, he should not hesitate to approach the National Sports Institute (NSI) or the Youth and Sports Ministry.
“If he needs help, he should reach out. The authorities will surely support him. But this pattern of withdrawing cannot continue- it’s not good for him or his career.”
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A Testing Year for Lee Zii Jia
Lee’s 2025 season has been marked by injuries, inconsistency, and extended absences from the international circuit. Despite a strong showing at the Paris Olympics, where he clinched bronze, the Kedah-born star has struggled to sustain form and fitness since.
As of now, there is no confirmation regarding Lee’s return to competition.
