"Hanya Lee Zii Jia mampu menjawab persoalan adakah dia individu yang dinanti-nantikan arena badminton Malaysia sebagai perseorangan terunggul negara selepas Datuk Lee Chong Wei," kata bekas perseorangan lelaki negara, Foo Kok Keong
Kok Keong, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada skuad juara Piala Thomas 1992, sentiasa mengikuti perkembangan Zii Jia.
Bagaimanapun, dia menegaskan bakat semula jadi sahaja tidak memberikan sebarang makna tanpa usaha dan kerja keras.
"Ketika ini, hanya Lee Zii Jia dilihat dapat menggalas kekosongan yang ditinggalkan Lee Chong Wei tetapi saya berpendapat dia perlu terus bekerja keras.
"Saya mengikuti rapat kejohanan bertaraf terbuka dan terdapat ramai pemain yang hebat di sana.
"Jadi, diharapkan Zii Jia juga mampu berkerja keras untuk mengatasi semua pemain terbaik dunia dan dapat menggantikan Chong Wei," katanya.
Tambahnya, pemain yang layak ke Sukan Olimpik Tokyo 2020 perlu mengimpikan pingat emas buat negara.
"Sudah pasti kita mahu melihat pemain negara memenangi pingat emas dalam Sukan Olimpik tahun depan.
"Kita masih mempunyai rangkaian pemain beregu dan perseorangan.
"Berbaki kurang setahun ini, diharapkan mereka dapat berlatih bersungguh-sungguh kerana mereka hanya ada satu peluang dalam tempoh empat tahun. Ia bukan mudah," tambahnya.
Penulis Jemputan
Mon Oct 21 2019
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