LEE Zii Jia needs to win the World Championships next month in order to shut up his critics once and for all.
The world No 5 has come under criticism from the badminton fraternity and netizens in the past one week following his decision to skip the Birmingham Commonwealth Games later this month.
The Asian champion claimed that it was a calculated move for him to peak at the world meet in Tokyo on Aug 22-28.
While Zii Jia refuses to get into a spat with anybody over his Commonwealth Games snub, his shock second round exit at the Malaysia Open on Wednesday has raised eyebrows.
Zii Jia, who left the national team in January to turn professional, suffered a surprise 21-19, 19-21, 21-16 loss to Indonesia's world No 26 Shesar Hiren Rhustavito in front of home fans at a packed Axiata Arena.
Left in frustration were many fans who had been relishing a Zii Jia versus Kento Momota quarter-final showdown.
Several former internationals, including Ong Ewe Hock and Datuk James Selvaraj, have spoken out on the Zii Jia issue. And they say everything still lies in the hands of the 2021 All England champion.
"There really isn't much to be said. Who knows what will happen next?
"If Zii Jia wins the World Championships, then all is well and good. Praises will be heaped on him.
"But if he loses, there will surely be a witch hunt," said Ewe Hock, a Commonwealth Games (1994) silver medallist.
Ewe Hock, who won the men's team gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, added that Zii Jia will need to tread carefully when making announcements, now that he is an independent player.
"I don't think we want to tell Zii Jia what to do. He is a professional and he is an adult. He can make his own decisions. No one knows, perhaps he will go on to win the World Championships after all."
James, on the other hand, is concerned with Zii Jia's readiness for the World Championships as he lacks quality match-play.
"Usually, you need to acclimatise to a high level tournament before you head off to a major event. I'm not so sure how Zii Jia intends to do that since he's decided to skip the Commonwealth Games, and is now out of the Malaysia Open," said James, who won a mixed team bronze medal at the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games.
Zii Jia, who inspired Malaysia to a historic Asia Team Championship title in February, has also said he will skip the Super 500 Singapore Open on July 12-17.
It remains to be seen if the Kedahan will also skip the Super 500 Malaysia Masters next week at the Axiata Arena.
KW: badminton, Lee Zii Jia, Malaysia Open, Commonwealth Games