Lee Zii Jia is a Malaysian badminton player who has won many titles and medals in international tournaments. He is one of the top contenders for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
He is known for his explosive and aggressive style of play and his calm and composed demeanor on the pitch.
He achieved a career-high ranking of world number 2 and became the 2022 Asian men’s singles champion.
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- Full name: Ly Tu Giai
- Date of birth: March 29, 1998
- Age: 25 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
- Nationality: Malaysian
- Occupation: Badminton player
- Height: 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
- Parents: Lee Chee Keong and Tan Bee Hong
- Siblings: Lee Zii Yi (older sister) and Lee Zii Heng (older brother)
- Spouse: None
- Children: None
- Relationship status: Single
- Net worth: $4 million
Early life and education
At the age of 25, Lee Zii Jia was born on 29 March 1998 in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. His parents, Lee Chee Keong and Tan Bee Hong, are both teachers and former basketball players.
He has a younger sister, Lee Zii Yi, and a younger brother, Lee Zii Heng. He started playing badminton at the age of 6 and joined Bukit Jalil Sports School at the age of 12.
He was inspired by his idol, Lee Chong Wei, who also hails from Kedah and is a former world number 1 badminton player.
He trained under various coaches such as Hendrawan, Tey Seu Bock and Misbun Sidek. He completed his secondary education at the school and graduated in 2016.
Personal life
Lee Zii Jia is still single and has not been in any romantic relationship. He is focused on his badminton career and his goal of winning an Olympic medal.
He is very close to his family and friends and often shares photos and videos of them on his social media accounts.
He is also a basketball fan and enjoys watching NBA games. He supports the Los Angeles Lakers and his favorite player is LeBron James.
He enjoys listening to music, especially hip-hop and rap. He enjoys traveling and exploring different cultures and cuisines.
Career
Lee Zii Jia started his professional badminton career in 2016 when he participated in the Malaysia International Badminton Tournament and reached the quarterfinals.
He then won his first international title at the 2017 Polish International Championships, defeating Rasmus Gemke in the final. He also won the 2017 Malaysian International Championships and the 2017 SEA Games mixed team gold medal.
He debuted at the 2018 BWF World Championships, reaching the third round. He also won the 2018 Chinese Taipei Open, defeating Chou Tien-chen in the final.
In 2019, Lee Zii Jia achieved his breakthrough performance at the 2019 All England Open, where he reached the semi-finals and lost to eventual champion Kento Momota.
He also won the men’s singles gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, defeating Jonatan Christie in the final. He finished the year ranked No. 13 in the world.
In 2020, Lee Zii Jia continued his impressive form and reached the final of the 2020 Malaysia Masters, where he lost to Chen Long. He also reached the quarterfinals of the 2020 All England Open, where he lost to Viktor Axelsen.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many tournaments were canceled or postponed and he was unable to compete for the rest of the year.
In 2021, Lee Zii Jia made history by winning his first BWF Super 1000 title at the 2021 All England Open, defeating Viktor Axelsen in the final. He became the first Malaysian men’s singles player to win the prestigious tournament since Lee Chong Wei in 2017.
He also reached the semi-finals of the 2021 Malaysia Open, where he lost to Kento Momota. He qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals and losing to Chen Long.
In 2022, Lee Zii Jia became the 2022 Asian Men’s Singles Champion, winning the 2022 Badminton Asia Championships in Manila. He defeated Kento Momota in the final, avenging his previous losses to the Japanese star.
He also reached the final of the 2022 Indonesia Open, where he lost to Anthony Sinisuka Ginting. He reached his career-high ranking of world number 2 on 25 October 2022, behind only Kento Momota.
Net worth
Lee Zii Jia’s estimated net worth is $4 million.
He earns his income from prize money, endorsement deals and sponsorships. He is sponsored by Yonex, a Japanese sports equipment company, and 100Plus, a Malaysian isotonic drink brand.
Social media
- Instagram Name: @leeziijia
- Twitter Username: @LeeZiiJia
