KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can finally rest easy tonight, knowing that their badminton hero, Lee Zii Jia, has made the country proud by securing a second bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
Zii Jia staged a dramatic comeback after losing the first game to India's Lakshya Sen, ultimately winning the match 13-21, 21-16, 21-11.
The world No. 7's perseverance and skill were on full display as he turned the tables in the final games.
In a teary post-match interview, the 26-year-old from Kedah reflected on his journey.
"A lot has happened in the past three years. There were times when I wanted to give up, but I didn't cry, not even once," he said.
Zii Jia expressed his determination to prove himself, despite the challenges and criticism he faced.
"I came this far... every morning when I wake up, I see so much news about myself. I kept wondering what I did wrong. Whatever the media wrote about me, I kept my silence because I knew I would prove it to them."
Reflecting on his path to the Olympics, he added, "I wasn't even sure if I could qualify for the Olympics, and my ranking dropped. It was a bad moment in my career. But here I am in the Olympics and winning the bronze medal."
Zii Jia promised to come back stronger and aim for the gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Despite a strong start by Lakshya, who led 8-3 in the first game, Zii Jia managed to turn the match around. Lakshya's right elbow injury, which required medical attention three times during the match, also played a role in the final outcome.
With two bronze medals in badminton, including one in the men's doubles by Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Malaysia's shuttlers have improved on their previous haul of one bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago.