KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Men’s professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia is determined to perform brilliantly in the tournaments in Europe to ensure he safely qualifies for the 2024 World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, in December.
The 26-year-old Paris 2024 bronze medallist said he will focus on his physical fitness to ensure he can achieve his goal.
“I will compete in all the tournaments (in Europe) because if you look at the ranking for the World Tour Final now, I am in sixth position, and as long as my condition is okay, I will play.
“Of course, I hope I can repeat what I did last year in Finland and Denmark. Not just for my achievement, not just for my result, but also for my ranking points, which I need to maintain,” he told reporters after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Incentive Presentation Ceremony at the National Sports Council here, today.
At the tournament in Europe last year, Zii Jia emerged champion of the Arctic Open 2023 and the runner-up of the Denmark Open 2023.
The Arctic Open 2024 will be held in Vantaa, Finland, from October 8 to 13, while the Denmark Open 2024 will be held in Odense from October 15 to 20.
Only the top eight in all categories (singles and doubles) qualify for the 2024 World Tour Finals, with each country allowed a maximum of two representatives.
Asked whether “Team LZJ” will be reshuffled after the recent Paris Olympics, he said it has not been discussed in detail, but assured he will share any developments on the matter.
Meanwhile, national men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik said after a long break following Paris 2024, they are formulating a strategy to win the Denmark Open to restore their confidence.
Aaron-Wooi Yik emerged champions of the Denmark Open last year.
The world number five pair was forced to pull out of the China Open in Changzhou from September 17 to 22, as Wooi Yik had not fully recovered from a fractured toe suffered during the Paris Olympics semi final.
— Bernama
