Zii Jia set to skip Hong Kong Open next week

Lee Zii Jia will not compete at next week’s Hong Kong Open (Sept 10-15) as he continues to recover from a grueling 2024 season.

The Paris Olympics bronze medalist had skipped the Korea Open, having lost in the opening round of the Japan Open to eventual champion Alex Lanier.

Lee’s name is not part of the 32-player field entered for the Super 500 event taking place next week.

Currently fourth in the world, Lee had competed in 15 events this year including the Olympics.

He has two titles at the Thailand and Australian Open and a second place finish at the Malaysia Masters, before securing bronze in Paris.

Lee could next see action at the China Open (Sept 17-22), which is a Super 1000 event.

Besides Lee, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik’s participation also looks doubtful due to a metatarsal injury suffered by the latter at the Olympics.

Chia said he has been training without Soh, and has been paired with different players during the sessions.

Seeded second in Hong Kong, Chia-Soh are due to face a Chinese Taipei pair in the opening round.

The final list of competing shuttlers will only be unveiled after the team managers meeting next Monday.