Lee Zii Jia admitted he was half-hearted about making the trip to Denmark should the Thomas & Uber Cup have gone ahead as scheduled, after speaking to Danish ace Viktor Axelsen regularly on the COVID-19 developments over there.
The Scandivian country saw a spike in new cases in the last week, with September 16 recording the highest number of new cases in months (369).
In light with that situation, compounded by the withdrawal of 13-time champions Indonesia and several other countries, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) made the decision to postpone the event on Tuesday.
But Lee, who lost to Axelsen in the semi-finals of the All-England Championships in March, was already reluctant to make the trip before the announcement was made.
“Of course we were preparing for the Thomas Cup, but there was also fear to travel there. I speak with Axelsen often and he told me the situation there was dangerous, with around 300 new cases daily.
“I still continued training to prepare, but focusing was difficult as we have never been in a situation like this before,” he said after winning his President’s Cup against Cheam June Wei 22-20, 21-18.
Meanwhile, the world number 10 was far from pleased with his win, even going as far to say he was “feeling down” following his 40-minute victory.
“I am not satisfied with my performance. I felt I played badly. I lost focus because there wasn't a target to play for, unlike when there were world tour events. I'm feeling down to be honest,” added Lee, who felt warm-up tournaments like this were nothing like the World Tour affairs.
“But we still need to have some sort of tournament feeling, so this kind of competition should definitely continue. For now, we will still continue training as usual.”
Lee set the tone for his Team A to beat Team B in the simulation event originally meant for the Thomas Cup, with Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, Ng Tze Yong and Shaqeem Eiman contributing the rest of the points.
Nicolas Anil
Fri Sep 18 2020
Piala Thomas: BAM akui Malaysia terlalu bergantung kepada pemain utama
Presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Tan Sri Norza Zakaria, akur dengan kebergantungan Malaysia kepada tonggak utama di kempen Piala Thomas 2024, yang menyaksikan perjuangan skuad negara terhenti di pentas separuh akhir.
Piala Thomas: Saya seperti orang lain dalam set kedua -- Lee Zii Jia
Perseorangan lelaki utama negara, Lee Zii Jia, mengakui masih banyak yang perlu diperbaiki daripada segi corak permainannya.
Terkini Piala Thomas: Lee Zii Jia akur kehebatan Shi Yuqi (MAS 0 CHN 1)
Perseorangan lelaki utama negara, Lee Zii Jia, gagal membutirkan mata pertama negara apabila tewas secara set langsung kepada pemain nombor dua dunia dari China, Shi Yuqi, dalam perlawanan separuh akhir Piala Thomas di Chengdu sebentar tadi.
Piala Thomas: Lee Zii Jia beri mata pertama
Pemain perseorangan nombor satu negara, Lee Zii Jia, menyumbangkan mata pertama dalam perlawanan suku akhir Piala Thomas menentang pemain perseorangan dari Jepun, Kenta Nishimoto di Chengdu, China sebentar tadi.
Lee Zii Jia punyai rekod cemerlang berdepan Kenta Nishimoto
Pemain perseorangan lelaki negara, Lee Zii Jia, dijangkakan bakal turun berdepan wakil perseorangan Jepun, Kenta Nishimoto, dalam saingan suku akhir Piala Thomas di Pusat Sukan High-Tech Zone Chengdu, China petang ini.
Pemain wanita Amerika Syarikat terkesima lihat Lee Zii Jia
Pemain badminton Amerika Syarikat, Esther Shi, terkesima memandang pemain perseorangan lelaki negara Lee Zii Jia yang sedang berjalan ke arah kawasan rehat di Pusat Sukan High-Tech Zone Chengdu, China.
Piala Thomas: Aksi dramatik Zii Jia-Axelsen tarik perhatian BWF
Aksi peringkat Kumpulan D antara Malaysia dan Denmark telah menyajikan perlawanan yang cukup menarik.
Piala Thomas: Tiada jaminan menang jumpa Viktor Axelsen -- Lee Zii Jia
Perseorangan nombor satu negara, Lee Zii Jia, menyedari bahawa banyak penambahbaikan yang perlu diperbaiki selepas tidak kesampaian menyumbangkan mata pertama dalam penutup Kumpulan D Piala Thomas apabila tewas kepada pemain nombor satu dunia, Viktor Axelsen, sebentar tadi.
Piala Thomas: Zii Jia jadikan aksi bertemu Viktor Axelsen penanda aras
Pemain perseorangan lelaki negara, Lee Zii Jia, cemerlang menyumbangkan mata dalam perlawanan menentang Algeria dengan menewaskan pemain di ranking 222 dunia, Adel Hamek, dalam saingan Piala Thomas 2024, hari ini.
Piala Thomas: Zii Jia tak sempat berpeluh sumbang mata pertama
Pemain perseorangan nombor satu negara, Lee Zii Jia, menyumbangkan mata pertama dalam perlawanan kedua selepas beraksi dengan baik menewaskan wakil perseorangan Algeria, Adel Hamek, dalam aksi peringkat kumpulan saingan Piala Thomas di Chengdu, China sebentar tadi.
Tiger Woods confirmed as part of PGA Championship field
Tiger Woods has won the PGA Championship on four occasions and is one of 16 previous champions on the list for next week's major.
Thiago Silva to rejoin Fluminense when Chelsea contract expires
Thiago Silva made 143 appearances for Fluminense between 2006 and 2009, and he will head back to Rio de Janeiro at the end of the season.
Rees-Zammit relishing Mahomes advice as former rugby star eyes spot on Chiefs roster
Rees-Zammit taking Mahomes' advice
Ancelotti demands greater intensity from Madrid ahead of Bayern clash
Ancelotti demands more from Madrid
Man Utd keen to sell Greenwood amid Barcelona interest, claims Getafe president
Getafe boss: Greenwood will be sold
Madrid champion Swiatek keen to maintain level at Italian Open
Iga Swiatek clinched her ninth WTA 1000 title last week, and she is now looking to reach double figures in Rome.
Nottingham Forest unsuccessful in appeal against Premier League points deduction
Forest fail in PSR appeal
Wolff refuses to rule out meeting Verstappen over Mercedes move
Wolff: Verstappen talks possible
'Whatever we need, he'll provide' – Brunson continues stunning playoff run for Knicks
Jalen Brunson is in great company after scoring 40 points in four straight playoff games, the latest coming against the Indiana Pacers.
'Call it a day' – Casemiro told to quit Man Utd after hapless Palace display
Carragher: Time for Casemiro to go