Lee Zii Jia has confirmed his season has ended from a persistent back injury, with the shuttler now preparing to return for the 2026 season which begins with the Malaysia Open.

“2025 has been a challenging year and also a learning curve when it comes to managing my physical health. There are days when I feel on top of the world, and there are days when I feel the effects of coming back from that ankle injury and nagging back pain.

“Since my last competitive match at the China Masters in September, my team and I have been working closely with medical experts on how to best move forward to ensure I am able to compete to the best of my abilities.

“After taking into account all feedback and listening to my body, I feel it’s best to close the chapter on 2025 and focus on the 2026 calendar. I remain spirited to return to court. January is just around the corner,” he posted on his socialmedia platform.

Lee’s heartfelt posting comes after his withdrawal from the Australian Open which begins today.

The Paris Olympics bronze medalist is the Australian Open defending champion, having beaten Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in three games en route to winning the title just before the Olympics last year.

This Super 500 event is also Lee’s last World Tour silverware.

This year, he has only featured in five events, with his last appearance coming at the China Masters where he retired in the third game of the opening round against Lin Chun-yi.

If Lee is targeting to return in January, the Malaysia Open (Jan 6-11) presents the perfect opportunity for him to kick-off the year.

Playing in front of the home crowd would boost his confidence and rejuvenate his spirits of making an impact in a competitive men’s singles arena.