KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 7 Lee Zii Jia believes the key to realising his "ultimate dream" of Olympic gold in Paris lies in his "fight against his inner self."
The 26-year-old Malaysian badminton star, set for his second Olympic appearance, seems undaunted by the challenging path to the final.
His mindset is evident in a poetic piece shared on the Team LZJ's X account.
Zii Jia is expected to easily advance from Group G, likely facing minimal resistance from lower-ranked opponents Viren Nettasinghe of Sri Lanka and Spain's Pablo Abian at the Paris Olympics.
However, the real test begins in the knockout stage.
His potential opponents include Indonesia's Anthony Ginting, the reigning bronze medallist, in the last-16.
Should he progress, world No. 4 Anders Antonsen of Denmark and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China could await in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
While the authorship of the poem is unclear, its philosophical tone aligns with Zii Jia's introspective approach.
The former All England champion's poetic words read: "The challenge has revealed itself, a tough road awaits.
"From giants of the game to future greats, but the fight is really within.
"Wanting to win is half the battle, knowing how is the key to winning it all.
"Once more into the great fight, once more towards the ultimate dream, I dare to fight.
"Though I am alone on the court, I am many in spirit."
This verse appears to be Zii Jia's way of expressing his recognition of the formidable challenge ahead.
It acknowledges the presence of both established champions and rising stars in his path.
More importantly, it emphasises that the true battle is internal – overcoming personal limitations, fears, and doubts.
The poem underlines the dual importance of desire and strategy in achieving success.
It conveys Zii Jia's strong personal resolve and suggests that while he may stand alone on the court, he feels bolstered by the support and motivation of many.