THE Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has suspended shuttler Lee Zii Jia for two years after he resigned from the national badminton team to turn professional. 

According to a Team Malaysia Facebook post, the 24-year-old Lee will not be allowed to compete in any international tournament during his suspension. 

“The suspension will be effective from January 18 onwards,” the post stated.

The suspension is set to put the brakes on Lee’s career, who is Malaysia’s top ranked badminton player.

The 2021 All England champion, who is ranked seventh in the world, tendered his resignation to the national badminton governing body on January 11.

Yesterday, BAM president Mohamad Norza Zakaria said one of the reasons given by Lee was that he was under tremendous pressure and that he needed to achieve his goals in his own time and space.

In the past, BAM had banned players such as Tan Chung Seang and Toh Ee Wei for quitting prematurely, although the latter rejoined the national set-up soon after being pardoned.

It is uncertain if BAM will make a special exemption for Lee pending appeal.

Lee was expected to lead Malaysia at this year’s major events, which include the Thomas Cup in Bangkok, Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Asian Games in Hangzhou and the SEA Games in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, at a press conference at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara, BAM said the decision was made to safeguard its position as an institution and for national interest.

BAM also suspended former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei for the next two years for prematurely leaving the national set-up. – January 21, 2022.