Tanggal 27 September 2019 menjadi tarikh yang diingati pemain badminton nombor satu dunia, Kento Momota, tatkala dia tergamam seketika dengan bakat bintang meningkat naik Malaysia, Lee Zii Jia.
Meskipun tewas kepada ikon Jepun itu dalam suku akhir Terbuka Korea Selatan, dia mula mencongak bekalan untuk mengecewakan juara dunia itu satu hari nanti sambil gerakan 'smash kilas' yang dilakukan tempoh hari mencuri tumpuan peminat badminton.
"Saya selalu lakukannya dalam latihan walaupun jarang ketika beraksi dalam kejohanan. Ia mungkin boleh dijadikan senjata rahsia untuk mengelirukan lawan," kata Zii Jia.
"Saya masih belum puas kerana ada perbezaan ketara di antara saya dan Momota. Ia membuatkan saya untuk berlatih lebih gigih."
Corak permainan Zii Jia yang kadangkala bersifat agresif dan berisiko turut menjadi perincian jurulatih yang menyelia programnya, Hendrawan.
Walaupun baru tiga bulan mencorak masa depan pemain kelahiran Kedah itu, Hendrawan menegaskan betapa anak muda itu begitu berbeza dengan Datuk Lee Chong Wei yang pernah dilatihnya sebelum menggantung raket, Jun lalu.
"Kami berlatih sekitar dua minggu, kemudian kembali ke kejohanan seminggu. Sekarang saya lebih fokus kepada strategi taktikal dan mainkan apa yang perlu.
"Ia penting untuk tingkatkan stamina dan kemampuannya. Keadaan ini perlu diteruskan sehingga Mac tahun depan. Kami masih ada sekitar enam bulan," ujar Hendrawan.
Penulis Jemputan
Tue Oct 01 2019


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