KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia knows he must find a solution to overcome his erratic on-court performance to become a medal contender at the Paris Olympics in July.
On Saturday, the world No. 10 fell short in his bid to win Malaysia a point against China in the Thomas Cup semi-finals, following two very contrasting games in his match against world No. 2 Shi Yu Qi in Chengdu.
After losing the first game narrowly, Zii Jia looked out of sorts and frustrated in the second, ultimately losing the match 21-19, 21-5.
Speaking to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in his post-match interview at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre, Zii Jia said: "My first game was very good, but in the second, I looked like a completely different person. This is a challenge for me, and I must find a solution.
"I don't know how to explain this problem, but I know it, and my coach knows it too. I believe it's similar to what happened to Kenta Nishimoto when he played me in the quarter-finals (Thursday).
"I know how important it was for my team to win the first point, so I was already down after losing the first game. In the second game, the more points Yu Qi won, the more confidence I lost."
Local media in Chengdu also asked the former world No. 2 Malaysian about his chances at the Paris Olympics in July.
"If I say I don't want to win, it would be a lie. I have also reached the top before, so I'm definitely not going to make up the numbers.
"But I'll allow my mood to change over time and hope to regain my confidence," added Zii Jia.
Zii Jia left the BA of Malaysia (BAM) in 2022 to turn professional and is now coached by Wong Tat Meng.