‘I’m Not Just About Badminton’

Five months after he last played a match, Lee Zii Jia is back.

It’s at a venue that holds fond memories – the Adidas Arena, badminton venue of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he won bronze.

Five months is a long time in sport, and Lee returns to a circuit that’s familiar, yet slightly different. His own journey over the five months, spent in recovering from a right ankle injury, has been tumultuous. Now, as he makes a comeback at the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025, there’s hope, but also anxiety.

What is his current level? That’s a question that fans will ask – but it’s also a question he asks of himself.

The answer will arrive in due course. For the moment, the important thing is that he’s been pain-free for over a month.

“I can say definitely it’s not in pain. I can play in training. Of course, while in a tournament it’s a different situation. So that’s why I’m here, it’s like a test for me.

“I’ve been out of normal training for quite a long time, doing only rehab, and when I got back to training, I struggled a lot. I haven’t played a proper match. But I did some match play, like five points, 21 points as well. But in sparring… I don’t think they have that level to compete with me. But for myself, I think I’m ready. I’m quite confident in training, but like I said, in tournament it’s a different world, it’s a different situation. So we’ll see how I react in the tournament.”

The five months away from competition presented a dynamic that he hadn’t ever experienced – he didn’t have to deal with match pressure or relentless expectations, but that was tempered by anxiety over his recovery, wondering if he’d ever return to his former level.

“It’s not normal (to be out for five months). I’ve been in a situation that… I wanted to stop playing because of all these injuries, all these things that bothered me. I’ve had ups and downs, but never had to deal with injuries. It was my first time dealing with this big injury. So it’s like a new thing for me. And when it happened, I was quite shocked as well, and I was clueless. I didn’t know what I should do and how I should deal with this problem.

“How am I going to perform when I come back. Am I still at the top level, or am I struggling with my own performance? I’m concerned a lot, to be honest, and it’s quite stressful but I think the important thing is that I’m ready now and I’m here.

“I completely shut off all the news, everything related to badminton. I was just focusing on my own (issues), like my rehab, like my mentality, because, like I said, I struggled a lot on my own things. I think I learned a lot during this process. It’s another new experience.”

Lee might have been out of competition, but he was still part of the everyday discourse on mainstream and social media, every act and non-act intensely scrutinised. His Instagram posts with cryptic artwork went viral. Were they just random images, or did they reflect his state of mind?

He is surprisingly candid about his mental state at the time, and about finding solace in art and travel.

“During those five months… I was not just dealing with my injuries, I was dealing with stress, and of course, I did have a little bit of depression. During those five months, I was not just about badminton. I travelled as well, to keep my mind fresh. I was sort of obsessed with art. I’m starting to do research with some art. I figured out that looking at art is something that can express our feelings, not just the good side, sometimes the dark side as well. So that’s why I shared those images.

“During my depression, I was in the middle point of trying to find something to distract myself. I went to try many new things, like reading books. I even tried a skydive in Dubai. And then I went to an art museum as well in Abu Dhabi. It was a solo trip, a healing trip for myself. I learnt something new again.”

It is this new version that he believes has emerged from the tumult of the injury. It’s about more than just badminton.

“Not just badminton, but the most important thing is that I know more of myself now, how to deal with my own feelings, my own reactions.

“I feel blessed that I’ve been through all this, that I still can compete in this tournament. And for me, the most important now is that I want myself to enjoy the game. And of course, to be injury-free, that’s the most important thing for me.”