Lee Zii Jia made the right decision to take a temporary break from badminton, according to an experienced sports psychologist as other high profile athletes also did the same in the past.

After losing his first round tie against Lakshya Sen at the Indonesia Open on Wednesday, Lee said, “I don’t know how long I will take, but I will quit badminton for a while, until I get the motivation again. I will take a break and rest for a while.”

Cheah Sin Eu, an experienced sports psychologist with performance psychology consultancy Mind Gap, explained Lee’s decision from a mental perspective.

“The fact Zii Jia said he will quit until he gets motivated again is a clear indication he needs a break. Since the pandemic restart, tournaments have come thick and fast. Going from one tournament to another in quick succession can be a significant change to an athlete’s career.

“Taking a break by quitting temporarily can be seen in a negative connotation by many. But it also proved that Zii Jia did a reflection on how his well being is affected, and took the necessary steps,” explained Cheah.

Lee, who slipped to 11th on the world rankings, played in 11 tournaments since the turn of the year, with an immense weight of expectations on him to perform in every one of them.

Cheah said elite performers like Lee were always under constant pressure to be at their best.

“They often face high expectations from themselves, coaches, team-mates, fans, sponsors and the media. The fear of failure can lead to performance anxiety and stress. The rise of social media also brings increased scrutiny, and intense public attention.

“24/7 news cycle can expose these athletes to criticism, unwarranted abuse and scrutiny of their personal and professional lives. This can also affect the athlete’s self-esteem. Not taking into account other factors such as financial pressure from sponsorships, the physical demands of travel, training and competing,” he added.

Lee’s decision was not an anomaly, with many other high profile athletes such as tennis ace Naomi Osaka and multiple Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles also taking a break from their fields to work on their mental well-being.

In the badminton world, Tokyo Olympics champion Chen Yufei also publicly spoken about being burnt out, while Lee’s latest opponent Sen also recently went on a hiatus to focus on his mental health.

Cheah said sports therapy and counselling can help an athlete in Lee’s position to develop resilience, manage their emotions and enhance their overall mental well-being.

“It is imperative we are able to empathise with their struggles and challenges. Therefore, it is always our call-to-action for athletes to seek necessary help by investing into their mental well-being.

“Sports psychologists can offer a safe and confidential space for athletes to discuss their mental health concerns. We can provide coping strategies and interventions tailored to the athletes' needs,” he concluded.

Sedikit perkongsian daripada pemain no.1 ??, Lee Zii Jia selepas tewas kepada perseorangan ??,Lakshya sen 17-21,13-21 bagi kejohanan Terbuka Indonesia@ASTROARENA pic.twitter.com/CvkNWdzfM4

— wan muiz (@muiz_aziz07) June 14, 2023