![Zii Jia thrills fans with explosive Instagram training clip and a celebrity cameo [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fziihia_1755216044.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Zii Jia thrills fans with explosive Instagram training clip and a celebrity cameo [WATCH]
The 40-second clip, shared on the world No. 52's Instagram, shows the men's singles ace firing off explosive jumping smashes with ease — a clear sign he has shaken off the right ankle injury that sidelined him for months.
Zii Jia looked sharp, agile and noticeably trimmer, moving freely without the ankle brace that had become a fixture since he was injured last December.
The lay-off saw him play only twice this year — reaching the Orleans Masters quarter-finals and suffering a first-round exit at the All England, both in March.
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A post shared by HAIRUL AZREEN IDRIS (@hairulazreen)
The former world No. 2 even had a visit from actor-director Hairul Azreen Idris, who shared a light moment with him.
"Yeah @leeziijia is back! Thank God his leg has fully recovered," Hairul wrote.
Now training under former international Yeoh Kay Bin, Zii Jia faces a tricky return to the Adidas Arena — the scene of his Paris Olympics bronze last year.
He opens against South Korea's world No. 38 Jeon Hyeok Jin, with a likely second-round clash against China's world No. 4 Li Shi Feng.
The form on display in the video suggests he won't be a pushover, and an upset against Shi Feng is not out of the question.
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