PETALING JAYA: Lee Zii Jia’s hopes of returning to competitive badminton after a five-month injury layoff suffered another blow, this time at the China Masters today.
The world No 42 was forced to retire after trailing 6-14 in the rubber game against Taiwan’s Lin Chun Yi.
The Malaysian had earlier taken the first game 21-17 but narrowly lost the second 21-23.
Zii Jia had ranked as high as world No 2 previously. However, after early exits at the World Championships and Hong Kong Open, doubts are mounting over his chances of reclaiming a place among the world’s elite.
National doubles shuttlers Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King also fell in the first round, losing to India’s Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy 24-22, 21-13 in 40 minutes.