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ExFunCity Sport News | Lee Zii Jia Comeback Talk Grows After Misbun Offers Help
By ExFunCity · 18 Sep 2026
TL;DR — Lee Zii Jia comeback hopes are back in focus after former coach Misbun Sidek said the Malaysian star can rise again if he seeks the right help.
A Lee Zii Jia comeback is once again a major talking point in Malaysian badminton after former national coach Datuk Misbun Sidek said the former All England champion still has the ability to rediscover his best form. Misbun, who coached Lee during the earlier stage of his career, said the Malaysian shuttler must be willing to seek the right help as he attempts to overcome his current struggles.
The comments come during a difficult period for one of Malaysia's most recognisable badminton players.
Latest Update
Misbun said Lee still appears determined to continue competing despite a challenging run of results.
The experienced coach knows Lee well. He worked with him during the early years of his career and guided him when Lee captured his first World Tour title at the Taiwan Open in 2018.
Misbun said he would be prepared to offer advice if Lee wanted his assistance, but stressed that the decision to seek help ultimately rests with the player.
His comments have renewed discussion about whether a Lee Zii Jia comeback could still happen.

Recent Struggles Put Zii Jia in Focus
Lee has found it difficult to regain consistent form during 2026.
Earlier in September, he suffered another setback when he lost to Taiwan's Wu Zhe-ying in the first round of the Vietnam Open. Former Malaysian great Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei has also previously offered support, saying a more structured training environment and stronger sparring system could help Lee rediscover his game.
Lee was also left out of Malaysia's Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games badminton squad, with Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh selected for the men's singles events instead.

Current Situation
Despite the recent results, Misbun believes Lee's previous achievements show what he is capable of producing.
Lee has already reached the highest levels of international badminton and famously won the All England title earlier in his career.
Misbun's view is that the challenge is now identifying what is preventing Lee from returning to that level rather than questioning whether he ever possessed the ability.
That makes the next stage of the Lee Zii Jia comeback story particularly important.

What Malaysian Fans Are Talking About
Malaysian badminton supporters are closely watching what Lee does next.
Some of the biggest questions are whether changes are needed in his training structure, whether additional coaching support could make a difference and how quickly he can rebuild confidence through tournament results.
With experienced figures including Misbun and Lee Chong Wei publicly indicating that support is available, attention will remain on Lee's response.
What Comes Next
There is currently no confirmed major change to Lee's coaching setup following Misbun's latest comments.
For now, the focus remains on rebuilding form and finding a path back towards stronger performances on the international circuit.
A successful Lee Zii Jia comeback would quickly become one of the biggest stories in Malaysian badminton, but the next moves will depend on the player and his team.
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