Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysian badminton star Lee Zii Jia has officially withdrawn from the upcoming 2025 Victor China Open, scheduled to take place from July 22-27 in Changzhou, China. The decision comes as a result of his ongoing ankle injury, further delaying his return to competitive action.
This marks the second consecutive major tournament from which the 27-year-old has pulled out, having also withdrawn from the Japan Open, which concludes this week. Lee Zii Jia has had a challenging year, with his only appearances on court being at the Orleans Masters and All England Open in March. Following those tournaments, he admitted to having rushed his comeback from the initial ankle injury sustained at the World Tour Finals in December 2024, a move that seemingly aggravated his condition.
The China Open is a prestigious BWF World Tour Super 1000 event, boasting a significant total prize money of US$2,000,000. It is one of the most lucrative tournaments on the BWF calendar, making Lee Zii Jia’s absence a notable void for fans and a setback for his ranking aspirations.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Team LZJ regarding his next move or a revised timeline for his full recovery and return to the international circuit. Fans and analysts alike will be keenly awaiting an update on the Olympic bronze medallist’s condition and future plans, hoping to see him back on court and competing at his best. The prolonged absence raises concerns about his readiness for the remainder of the season and crucial future tournaments.