Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Norza Zakaria said Khairul Anuar had asked to be replaced as he will be in action the following day.
Norza said Khairul Anuar was set to compete in the qualifying round of the recurve mixed team event with Syaqiera Mashayikh at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field on July 24.
With his withdrawal, there will be two shuttlers carrying the Malaysian flag at the Tokyo Olympics as Zii Jia will be joined by mixed doubles star Goh Liu Ying.
“The OCM meeting this morning decided to name a combination of a veteran and a newcomer.
“Zii Jia has been chosen because he is among the debutants and also the country’s next generation of Olympic hopefuls, as well as a medal prospect this time. Liu Ying, meanwhile, has competed at the Olympics before,” he said.
Norza announced on May 3 that Liu Ying and Khairul Anuar had been given the honour of being the country’s flagbearers in Tokyo.
Liu Ying, 32, and her mixed doubles partner Chang Peng Soon, 33, are ranked seventh in the world and won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics after losing 21-14, 21-12 to Indonesians Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana in the final.
Zii Jia, 23, is expected to be a medal contender following his excellent performance in bagging the All England title after defeating world No 2 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 30-29, 20-22, 21-9 in the final in March.
He also beat two-time world champion and Japanese star Kento Momota in Birmingham.
The national contingent to the Tokyo Olympics is set to make history by featuring two flagbearers in the opening ceremony.
Meanwhile, the OCM said in a statement that the meeting also emphasised the preparation of athletes and officials for the Tokyo Olympics, as well as the importance of adopting measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among the Malaysian contingent at all times.
Zii Jia, who was surprised by news of his appointment as one of the country’s two flagbearers, said it would definitely spur him to achieve the best result possible at the world’s biggest multi-sport Games.
“Thank you OCM, including president Norza Zakaria, the National Sports Council as well as the Badminton Association of Malaysia for your support in choosing me as the flagbearer in Tokyo,” he said in a video clip shared with the media today.
Meanwhile, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has congratulated the country’s athletes on their success in qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
According to an Istana Negara Facebook post, the King hoped national athletes would put up their best performance when carrying the name of Malaysia at the world’s highest sporting arena.
The King also granted youth and sports minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican an audience at Istana Negara today where he handed over the Jalur Gemilang as a symbol of receiving the national contingents competing in the two Games.