Latest news with #ZiiJia
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Zii Jia declines RTG offer
Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has officially rejected the offer to join the Road To Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA2028). This was confirmed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh at an RTG press conference at the Youth and Sports Ministry Tower today. However, Hannah said the door remains open for Zii Jia to join the RTG if he changes his mind in the future. 'Zii Jia is not joining the programme for his own reasons. So we respect his decision,' she said. Zii Jia was among 16 athletes shortlisted under the RTG programme in April. This is the second time the Paris Olympics bronze medallist has turned down an offer to join the RTG, following a similar decision in 2023. Meanwhile, Team LZJ, in a statement today, expressed its gratitude to the RTG committee, especially Hannah, for offering Zii Jia the opportunity to join the prestigious programme. According to Team LZJ, after full consideration, they decided to decline participation in the RTG. 'RTG is a programme reserved for the best of the best in the country, and since Zii Jia is still recovering from his injury, we feel that the appropriate assistance from the programme should be given to his fellow peers that are more deserving at this moment,' the statement said. – Bernama
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Zii Jia declines RTG offer ahead of Los Angeles 2028
Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has officially rejected the offer to join the Road To Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA2028). This was confirmed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh at an RTG press conference at the Youth and Sports Ministry Tower today. However, Hannah said the door remains open for Zii Jia to join the RTG if he changes his mind in the future. 'Zii Jia is not joining the programme for his own reasons. So we respect his decision,' she said. Zii Jia was among 16 athletes shortlisted under the RTG programme in April. This is the second time the Paris Olympics bronze medallist has turned down an offer to join the RTG, following a similar decision in 2023. Meanwhile, Team LZJ, in a statement today, expressed its gratitude to the RTG committee, especially Hannah, for offering Zii Jia the opportunity to join the prestigious programme. According to Team LZJ, after full consideration, they decided to decline participation in the RTG. 'RTG is a programme reserved for the best of the best in the country, and since Zii Jia is still recovering from his injury, we feel that the appropriate assistance from the programme should be given to his fellow peers that are more deserving at this moment,' the statement said. – Bernama
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Zii Jia turns down RTG offer
PUTRAJAYA: Professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia has turned down an offer to join the Youth and Sports Ministry's Road to Gold (RTG) programme. This was confirmed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh during a press conference here today (June 10). Yeoh said the RTG committee respects Zii Jia's decision and wishes him the best. "Zii Jia has decided not to join RTG, he has his own reasons and we respect that. We wish him the best," said Yeoh during the presser. "I would like to thank Zii Jia, whom I met recently, for providing valuable input on how we can further help professional players. "At the end of the day, the decision lies in the hands of the athletes. We respect whatever decision they make. "I want to make it clear that the door to RTG is always open. "Our goal is the same as the athletes, which is to win gold. It does not matter whether they are professional athletes or athletes under BA of Malaysia (BAM), we want to help." Zii Jia's team, in a post on social media today (June 10), said the shuttler is grateful for the offer though believe the opportunity should be given to "more deserving" athletes at the current time. "After much consideration, we have decided not to take up the offer to be included in the RTG programme," said Zii Jia's team. "RTG is a programme reserved for the best of the best in the country and sinze Zii Jia is still recovering from his injury, we feel that the appropriate assistance from the programme should be given to his fellow peers that are more deserving at this moment in time. "Although Zii Jia will not be part of the RTG programme, we deeply value the opportunity presented to his and we would like to express our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to the RTG committee. "Especially the minister and RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam for making the time to meet Zii Jia personally." Zii Jia is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained late last season. RTG is intended to give Malaysia's top athletes the additional support they need to challenge for gold at the Olympics as well as other major international competitions. Zii Jia had previously turned down an offer to join RTG during the 2024 Paris Olympics cycle. In addition to sport science support, competition exposure and coaching, athletes under the RTG programme also receive a RM3,000 monthly allowance.
The Star
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Zii Jia turns down RTG offer, citing recovery from injury
PETALING JAYA: Men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has decided not to accept the offer to be included in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme. Zii Jia decided not to be part of RTG leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics and has stuck to his initial stance ahead of the next edition in 2028 in Los Angeles. ALSO READ: Zii Jia keeps 'em waiting over decision to join RTG or not The 27-year-old independent player, who won bronze in the Paris Games, said this in a statement on social media through Team LZJ on Tuesday (June 10). "After much consideration, we have decided not to take up the offer to be included in the Road to Gold programme," it read. "RTG is a programme reserved for the best of the best in the country and since Zii Jia is still recovering from his injury, we feel that the appropriate assistance from the programme should be given to his peers who are more deserving at this moment in time. ALSO READ: Time to restore order in singles with Zii Jia's return "Although Zii Jia will not be a part of the RTG programme, we deeply value the opportunity... and we would like to express our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to the RTG committee especially to outh and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh as well as RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam for taking the time to meet Zii Jia personally." Zii Jia is recovering from a right ankle ligament injury sustained during the World Tour Finals in December and is targeting a comeback in the Japan Open from July 15-20 in Tokyo.
The Star
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Time to restore order in singles with Zii Jia's return
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia's ( pic ) return from injury in the Japan Open from July 15-20 in Tokyo is a boost for the struggling Malaysian men's singles department. National No. 1 Zii Jia suffered a right ankle ligament injury in the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou last December and could only compete in the Orleans Masters and All-England in March so far this year. The 27-year-old's absence has been keenly felt with the likes of national No. 2 Leong Jun Hao and No. 3 Justin Hoh struggling to make an impression in the World Tour. World No. 25 Jun Hao and world No. 43 Justin's best results were reaching the quarter-finals in the Super 750 Singapore Open last week and Super 300 Taiwan Open last month respectively. In the Indonesian Open which ended on Sunday, Jun Hao, who was Malaysia's sole representative in the men's singles, went down to China's world No. 4 Li Shifeng in the second round in Jakarta. Zii Jia's return has raised hopes of lifting the gloom in the men's singles in the country. The Paris Olympics bronze medallist has registered for the Japan Open and will likely also compete in the China Open from July 22-27 in Changzhou, China. Zii Jia initially planned to make his comeback in the US Open (June 24-29) but decided to take a cautious approach and delay his return to avoid aggravating his injury. His caution is understandable with the World Championships coming up from Aug 25-31 in Paris. In the Japan tourney, Zii Jia will be joined by Jun Hao. The draw for the tournament will be released on July 8.
