Lee Zii Jia’s preparations for the Malaysian Open have taken an unexpected turn following the announcement that his head coach, Yeoh Kay Bin, will not be extending his contract with Team LZJ.
According to an official statement from Team LZJ, Yeoh made the decision to part ways in order to pursue personal opportunities in the coming year. The 45-year-old, who joined the team about a year ago, has been a key figure in supporting Zii Jia through a challenging season marked by recurring injuries.
Despite the contract decision, Yeoh has agreed to remain in Zii Jia’s corner for the upcoming Malaysian Open at Axiata Arena from Jan 6–11, ensuring continuity during the home Super 1000 event. Following the tournament, former national player Liew Daren will return to Team LZJ in a coaching role.
Team LZJ expressed its appreciation for Yeoh’s contributions, highlighting his strong presence and commitment during a period when Zii Jia struggled to stay on court due to injury setbacks. Limited competitive appearances over the past year meant that much of the work done in training could not be fully showcased in tournaments.
Zii Jia himself voiced understanding and respect for Yeoh’s decision, acknowledging both the lessons learned and the frustration of not being able to translate their training progress into results. He added that he fully supports Yeoh’s desire to seek new opportunities and wished him well.
The Malaysian Open will mark Zii Jia’s first competitive appearance since September. He faces a challenging path in the draw, starting with India’s world No. 32 Ayush Shetty, with a potential second-round clash against world No. 1 and defending champion Shi Yu Qi.
Injuries have heavily impacted Zii Jia’s 2025 season. After reaching the quarter-finals of the Orleans Masters in March, he suffered early exits in several major tournaments and later sustained a back injury in the China Masters, compounding an ongoing ankle issue. His prolonged absence saw his world ranking drop to No. 144, though a protected ranking of No. 9 allows him entry into top-tier events until March.
Malaysia will also have Leong Jun Hao in the men’s singles draw, with the world No. 28 set to face China’s Wang Zhengxing in the opening round.
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