When an athlete has a meltdown, it would be most unkind for outsiders to rub it further into the person. If we have nothing good to say about him or her publicly, it’s best that we keep our mouths shut.
With that in mind, let me attempt to encourage one athlete whom I believe many of us would want to see do well in his career, moving forward.
Lee Zii Jia (above) is in such a delicate and difficult situation today. He is in a place where he needs help badly but the thing is he isn’t sure what he needs. Even if he does, it is uncertain whether he is getting the right kind of assistance.
Our national top singles shuttler has been going through a rough patch for the past few months.
To size up Lee fairly and at this low point of his career, let me give him some pluses due to him.
At 24, I can describe Lee as a disciplined and dedicated sportsperson. He loves badminton and knows what it takes to be up there among the world’s top players. It is all about hard work.
There must be good reasons why Lee is currently at Number 4 in the world, although he was ranked Number 2 at one stage last year.
Lee has sacrificed a lot for the love of the sport and in the pursuit of excellence in his badminton career. He has also done Malaysia proud when he represented the nation at regional tournaments, winning gold at the SEA and Asian Games over the past few years.
The icing on the cake for Lee was winning the All-England singles title in 2021, a feat he could not repeat last year.
One very important personality of Lee, which I took note of, is that he is “clean”. He sports a boyish haircut, does not colour his hair, does not wear ear studs and best of all, has no tattoos.
Many might say an athlete’s appearance has nothing to do with his performance and would usually refrain from commenting on such. In some ways, I agree but I also think how an athlete projects himself on the court or the field is important.
I have noticed that some of our boys change their hair colour regularly. I’ve heard that hair saloons charge more than RM1,000 for several hours of colour work. I suppose the money could be put to better use. Some also wear ear studs (hello boys, during my time, only girls wear earrings/studs). Boys look sissy with ear studs on the court, if you want to know.
But none of our players today went to the extent of sporting a Misbun Sidek “Mohican” hairstyle which was just outrageous. Sorry Misbun to bring this up, but what were you thinking when you shocked us all with that haircut in Stadium Negara in the 80s?
Lee has no tattoos. I’m not sure if he has any which are not noticeable, but I’m glad he is not Lin Dan who wears tattoos all over like the billionaire football stars Lionel Messi or David Beckham.
Badminton players only make a few million at most, if you are lucky. The really successful ones like Lee Chong Wei might be worth some RM50 million. So, no need to go down the road of billionaire football stars.
To me, tattoos look awful on the legs and arms of athletes. It is never about a fashion statement, so, don’t bother me with that. Sorry, tattoos are a “No No” for me.
Speed, stamina, skills
I would like to see Lee continue with his “clean” image on the court. This will make him a son any father would be proud of, never mind if he struggles now and again in tournaments.
I’m very happy to know that Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has taken an interest in Lee’s case and is concerned with his alarming decline in form.
Yeoh said that she had spoken to Lee after his loss to Taiwan's world No 49 Lee Chia-Hao in the second round of the German Open on Thursday. It was the first time in four years that Lee had lost to a player outside the top 40.
I’m particularly excited that Yeoh mentioned mental strength training, which forms part of the support infrastructure for athletes.
As I assess Lee, I believe he has the speed, stamina, skills and court craft. What he lacks is the mental strength to turn around a game in his favour whenever he is trailing.
I have witnessed how often Lee gets jittery whenever he is about to lose a match or when he is trailing towards the end of a game. He would be attempting difficult shots and giving away precious points.
At a time like this, I wish Lee has the mental capacity of Danish great Morten Frost, who planned his next shot every time he was behind, ensuring that it was executed almost to perfection.
Our local star of the 90s, Foo Kok Keong, is another player who comes to mind as a mentally strong athlete. Foo was also one of the fittest players during his time and coupled with his mental strength, was a definite asset to the national team.
I think Lee should also emulate Prakash Padukone’s time-wasting technique when things were not going his way in a match.
The Indian great of the 80s was known for his frequent requests to towel down. Apparently, he needed the time to rethink and plan a new strategy. It had worked for Padukone in many games. Not such a novel move but hey, you want to win, don’t you?
Yes, Lee needs to focus on his mental strength. Take your sweet time to think and plan your next move. Do not take risks with difficult shots like overhead crosscourt slices. Chances are they will not work, not when luck is not on your side.
And finally, my appeal to the good minister. Dear Hannah, while you are helping Lee out, please look into his legal wrangle with his former coach, Indra Wijaya.
I believe that is something bothering Lee and his team. The sooner that is resolved, the better for all.
My best to Lee Zii Jia. I will be watching you in your next tournament, for sure. Remember to focus on your mental strength. - Mkini
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a badminton fan and played the game leisurely till he was 50. He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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