National singles head coach Datuk Misbun Sidek said that 19-year-old Lee Zii Jia will be groomed to be the next Datuk Lee Chong Wei – and hard, hard work is in the plan ahead.
After a stellar appearance so far at the on-going Badminton Asia Team Championship, Datuk Misbun said that Zii Jia is a gem and which will be polished in the traditional way.
“Zii Jia is a young boy with a lot of potential but I hope he is not content with what he has achieved right now. We will use the traditional way to groom him into a top athlete just like Chong Wei when he was 19. But he will have to devote himself to push harder in training,” added Misbun.
Misbun has been an inspiration to Zii Jia where he seems to have found the “right formula” to get the youngster playing some of the best badminton here in Alor Star.
But Misbun is not about to let the in-form 19-year-old Zii Jia, who have won four straight matches, let the shuttle get to his head.
“He has learned a lot in this team event and it’s never easy to take up a role. He has learnt how to handle pressure and deploy the right tactics,ā added Misbun. ā BY ALVINA OH
