KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Zii Jia's non-committal stance regarding his participation in the national team for the Thomas Cup Finals in Chengdu, China, from April 28 to May 5 has caused a major headache for the BA of Malaysia.
Zii Jia, 26, through his representatives, conveyed to national coaching director, Rexy Mainaky, that he might opt to skip the prestigious world men's team competition to better prepare for the Paris Olympics in July.
All eyes will now surely be on the impending team announcement, as Zii Jia's potential absence would result in Malaysia heading to the Thomas Cup Finals with one of the weakest men's singles line-ups in history.
It's worth noting that Zii Jia ended the previous edition in Bangkok with an outstanding unbeaten record in all three first singles matches he contested, including notable wins against India's Lakhysa Sen and Japan's Kento Momota.
With the list submission set for April 13, Timesport projects who the four, or even five, men's singles players to be called up might be:
NG TZE YONG
Age: 23
Ranking: 18
Appearance at Finals: Two (Aarhus 2021, Bangkok 2022)
Best result in past six months: Arctic Open Super 500 (runner-up), French Open Super 750 (semi-finals)
He is in a race against time to regain fitness as he is still recovering from a back injury. If he manages to return to optimal conditions, Tze Yong is set to assume the first singles role in the potential absence of Zii Jia. This would mark a promotion of sorts for Tze Yong, who had previously featured in the second singles roles in his last two appearances.
LEONG JUN HAO
Age: 24
Ranking: 37
Appearance at Finals: Three (Bangkok 2018, Aarhus 2021, Bangkok 2022)
Best results in past six months: KL Masters Super 100 (winner)
He will need to be on standby to play in the opening singles in the event Zii Jia opts out and Tze Yong is still not fit to play. With plenty of team event experience under his belt, Jun Hao can be relied upon, especially in the second or third singles duties.
AIDIL SHOLEH ALI SADIKIN
Age: 24
Ranking: 106
Appearance: Two (Aarhus 2021, Bangkok 2022)
Best results in past six months: Indonesia International Challenge (winner), KL Masters Malaysia Super 100 (semi-finals)
Aidil could benefit from Zii Jia's absence and his inclusion in the squad for the third successive edition. He played no part during the Aarhus event and featured in just one match against minnows United States in Bangkok. Aidil might just have the opportunity to play a more significant role this time, should he be selected.
JUSTIN HOH
Age: 20
Ranking: 233
Appearance: Nil
Best result in past six months: Guwahati Masters Super 100 (semi-finals)
Just returning from injury, Justin appears to be on track for his debut, although it remains uncertain whether he will be fielded in crucial matches. Based on ranking, Justin might potentially appear as the third singles player at best. This event presents a valuable opportunity for him to gain experience, as the coaches aim to develop him into a key player for future editions.
EOGENE EWE
Age: 19
Ranking: 201
Appearance: Nil
Best result in past six months: Vietnam International Challenge (semi-finals)
While he has yet to shine, Eogene is definitely on the radar of the coaches to be included as the fifth singles player, especially if the team decide to opt for an extra player as insurance due to injury concerns. Though he has faced challenges in making an impression recently, Eogene has a lot to prove, and his debut in the Finals could provide an ideal opportunity for him to do just that.