KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 6 Lee Zii Jia's first-round exit from the Japan Open today, while disappointing, was not entirely unexpected.
The Super 750 tournament in Kanagawa had already lost much of its allure due to the withdrawal of several top players, coming just two weeks after the Paris Olympics
Zii Jia fell to French rising star Alex Lanier, 21-18, 21-13, in a match that highlighted the Malaysian's apparent lack of preparation.
"I have been feeling physically weak for the past few days since coming back from the Olympics, but skipping tournaments was not in the plan as long as I feel it would not harm me.
"I tried my best and fought through the match just now but my body didn't allow me to perform to the best of my abilities. Looking forward for a good rest and recovery for upcoming tournaments," he said after the match.
Zii Jia added that he will be taking a lengthy close to one-month break before returning for the Hong Kong Open from Sept 10-15.
Following his Olympic bronze medal triumph, Zii Jia's schedule had been packed with radio station interviews, social engagements, and even a modeling appearance at a Bukit Bintang fashion show, barely a day before departing for Japan.
Despite these distractions, Zii Jia's participation demonstrates his commitment to fulfilling the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) "Top Committed Player Obligations."
This policy mandates that the world's top 15 singles players and top 10 doubles players compete in all Super 1000 and Super 750 events of the season, except for valid reasons like injury or illness.
The timing of the Japan Open, so soon after the Olympics, led to a notable absence of elite players.
The men's singles event, in particular, saw withdrawals by Olympic gold and silver medallists Viktor Axelsen and Kunlavut Vitidsarn, as well as top contenders Jonatan Christie and Li Shi Feng.
The absences of these top players created opportunities for emerging players like Lanier.
At just 19, Lanier is far from a newcomer to the badminton scene. Ranked 29th in the world - higher than any Malaysian of his age - he boasts impressive credentials, including a bronze at the 2023 World Junior Championships, the 2022 European Junior title, and a runner-up finish at the recent Canada Open Super 500.
Meanwhile, in the women's singles, Goh Jin Wei failed to progress, losing 21-18, 21-10 to third seed Wang Zhi Yi of China.