Lee Zii Jia checked into the Malaysia Masters court testing on Monday in good spirits ready to shine in this Super 500 event, but kept a tight lid on the impending arrival of his new coach.

“We are still in the process of finalising the details. Hopefully these next few weeks we can finalise it and have a name to announce. The Olympics qualification period has started and the new coach will give me a clearer direction to prepare for training and tournaments.

“[Liew] Daren is still new and is working on some things with me all the time. But we need someone with experience to guide us,” said Lee without divulging the new coach’s background and nationality.

Lee, seeded fourth, is tipped as one of the big contenders to win the Malaysia Masters on the back of his form at the Sudirman Cup, where he won all his three matches in straight games against K.Srikanth, Chou Tien-chen and Jeon Hyeok-jin.

The Malaysian also drew a strong support at the Sudirman Cup in Suzhou, China last week as hordes of fans were seen queuing up with their phones out to meet him at a sponsors event.

Even Lee was surprised at the reception he got.

“I was quite surprised and didn’t expect that reaction from China, as it was three or four years since I last went there. I appreciate their support and hope to return there soon,” he added.

Despite doing well last week, Lee is expecting a tough opening game against Lu Guang Zu, who beat him in their last meeting last year.

The national contingent, who took home a bronze medal from the Sudirman Cup, all checked in for court testing on Monday evening, and some of them will be in action from Tuesday itself.

They include men’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah.