Lee Zii Jia, the Malaysian badminton star, returns to the global stage at the BWF World Championships in Paris this week, marking his first competition after a five-month hiatus due to a serious right ankle injury.
Lee Zii Jia’s Return: Will he make it or break it?
Ahead of the big event, he 27-year-old opened up about the most challenging period of his career- when he not only went through physical pain, but also mental struggles, including stress and mild depression.
“It’s not normal to be out for five months. I’ve had ups and downs in my career, but never had to deal with injuries. It was tough mentally,” Lee admitted.
After injuring his ankle at the World Tour Finals last year and aggravating it in early 2025, Lee opted to take a complete break from competition. During that time, he found unexpected outlets in art, travel, and reading, which helped him cope with the emotional toll.
“I was sort of obsessed with art… it became a way to express emotions, even the darker side,” he said. A cryptic Instagram post from that period reflected his internal struggles, which later sparked public concern.
Lee’s time away from the sport also saw his world ranking drop to No. 52, although he successfully applied for a protected ranking (No. 9) due to his injury.
Despite missing several key tournaments- including the Thomas Cup and multiple World Tour events- Lee says he’s now pain-free and has been training without setbacks for over a month. Yet, he remains cautious with expectations.
“I’m not aiming for any targets. I just want to enjoy the game and stay injury-free,” Lee emphasized. “This is my first time coming back from such a big injury. I’m here to test where my condition is.”
Also Read: BWF World Championships 2025: Points And Prize Money Breakdown
Lee Zii Jia’s draw at BWF World Championships 2025
Lee begins his World Championships campaign on Monday, 25 August against South Korea’s Jeon Hyeok-jin. Should he win, a second-round clash with China’s world No. 4 Li Shifeng awaits- a major early test of his comeback.
The Championships are being held at the Adidas Arena, the same venue where Lee clinched Olympic bronze at Paris 2024. While he typically struggles in French tournaments, the Olympic medal remains his standout result in the country- and perhaps a source of positive momentum.
The men’s singles field is as competitive as ever, with no clear dominant force like the Lin Dan–Lee Chong Wei era. As Lee put it:
“Everyone has the chance to win any tournament if they are 100% ready.”
Even Viktor Axelsen, the Danish two-time Olympic champion who withdrew from this year’s event, believes Lee still has the potential to bounce back.
As Malaysia watches with bated breath, one thing is clear: Lee Zii Jia’s comeback is about more than medals- it’s about resilience, perspective, and rediscovering joy in the sport he once thought of walking away from.
