After injuries affected his performance in the 2025 season, Zii Jia spent a lot of time away from the badminton circuit. And his prolonged break led to a drop in his ranking and his exposure. However, he made a strong comeback at the Thomas Cup 2026, resulting in his ranking jumping 15 spots.

The player has now successfully climbed from World No. 82 to No. 67 with his recent performances. He is ready and qualified for the upcoming Thailand Open, a BWF World Tour Super 500 event set to take place in Bangkok. It is a great opportunity for Zii Jia to improve his ranking even further.

Zii Jia was once one of the most prominent players on the circuit, known for his powerful rallies. He is a former world No. 2, the 2021 All England Open champion, and the gold medallist at the 2022 BAC.

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Lee Zii Jia’s performance at the 2026 Thomas Cup

At the 2026 Thomas Cup, Zii Jia represented Malaysia in Group B, with all ties held in Horsens between 24 April and early May 2026.

Malaysia was drawn alongside Japan, England, and Finland and finished as the group runners-up before losing in the quarter-finals.

Zii Jia won all three of his group-stage matches. His opening match was against England’s Nadeem Dalvi. He defeated him 21–13, 21–11 in 35 minutes in straight games.

He followed that with another straight-games win against Finland’s Ananda Galvani Daniswara, winning 21–19, 21–10 in 35 minutes.

Finally, in the last group tie against Japan on 29 April, he defeated Koki Watanabe 21–13, 21–19 in a 41-minute match.

Despite his straight-game win, Malaysia lost the tie to Japan 3–2 and finished second in Group B, advancing to the knockout stage. However, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 3–0 defeat to China.

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Trending slideshow: 15 Things That Make Lee Zii Jia One of Badminton’s Most Exciting Stars

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Lakshya confirmed that he underwent scans after returning from Denmark and is currently awaiting the doctors’ assessment before making a decision on his upcoming tournament schedule.

“The injury is getting better now but I have just come back last night and I did some scans in the mornings as well. I will now go to the doctor and then have a word with him and then decide on how to go about the (upcoming) tournaments,” he said.

He further added, “I’m supposed to play the Thailand Open next week, but again still waiting for the confirmation from the doctor.”

“…as I’ve taken the MRI scans now so just waiting for his opinion on that and then we’ll get a clearer idea on the tournament.”

Lakshya elaborated on the injury, explaining that his adrenaline was running so high during the quarterfinal that he did not fully register its seriousness.

“The injury happened in the first set of the match against Chou Tien-chen. I couldn’t realize it at that time. It hurt for the next 2-3 points when I dived. But after that, I completely forgot, and the adrenaline was so high that I couldn’t focus on that,” he said. 

Lakshya’s impact on the Thomas Cup campaign

Lakshya Sen nonetheless completed India’s Thomas Cup quarterfinal tie despite the injury, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen in a gripping three-game contest. He prevailed 18-21, 22-20, 21-17 in an intense 88-minute battle.

Right after the match, Lakshya had noticed the swelling in his elbow. He was ruled out of the semifinal against France as a precautionary measure.

India competed at the semifinals without Lakshya but eventually suffered a 0-3 defeat to France, bringing its campaign to a close with a bronze medal. His absence prompted last-minute changes to the team combination.

Another leading Indian shuttler, HS Prannoy, reflected on the impact of Lakshya’s absence on the team’s chances.

“Definitely, we were stronger as a team if the tie had gone to the fourth and fifth match. So I still believe that if Lakshya had been in the semi-final for us, things would have been different.”

He added, “But, I think it’s unfortunate that he (Lakshya) couldn’t play. He was down with an injury and I think we had to respect that considering that it was such a big tournament and he had already done his job getting us that big win against (Chinese-Taipei’s) Chou Tien-chen (in the quarter-finals).”

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Trending slideshow: Who Is Lakshya Sen? 15 Fascinating Facts About India’s Badminton Star

Soureesh Datta

As the former World No. 2 faced growing criticism, BAM Performance Committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei backed Jonassen, saying that he is still new and needs more time.

“We have to give Jonassen time. He has only been with us for just over a year. Before he came, it’s not like we already had a top-10 player,” he said.

“You cannot just come in and immediately produce a world champion,” he added.

He also pointed to other countries’ squads as examples, noting that many nations are currently struggling to develop elite players and that success does not happen overnight.

“This process takes time. We cannot expect immediate results. I’ve been in BAM for 19 years, and we must give coaches time to deliver,” he said. 

“We have to give Jonassen time. He has only been with us for just over a year. Before he came, it’s not like we already had a top-10 player,” he added.

The new coach was appointed in January 2025, and his contract runs until 2028. A former player from Denmark, Jonassen competed consistently in many tournaments during the late 1990s and 2000s, and even won a gold medal at the 2008 European Badminton Championships.

Malaysia’s poor performance at the 2026 Thomas Cup

At the 2026 Thomas Cup, Malaysia exited in the quarterfinals after a 3-0 loss to eventual champions China.

The first quarterfinal game featured world No. 25 Leong Jun Hao against Shi Yuqi. Leong pushed the match to three games but eventually lost 21-10, 16-21, 21-9 in a contest that lasted about 67 minutes.

The second singles match saw world No. 44 Justin Hoh face Li Shifeng. However, he struggled to keep up and lost in straight games, 14-21, 13-21, in a 44-minute match.

Malaysia’s major issue was its lack of depth in the lineup, with the first singles player losing all his matches and Justin Hoh struggling to get past stronger opponents.

As Malaysia continues rebuilding for the future, Lee Chong Wei stressed that player development is a gradual process and that patience is essential. He added that this defeat is part of the team’s growth.

“We failed in this campaign and we have to accept it. Everyone wants to be champions, but this is part of the process,” he noted.

“I accept all criticism, but we must continue working. This is about national pride and it is my responsibility to help Malaysian badminton,” he added.

Chong Wei also urged fans to continue supporting the squad in upcoming events to keep their morale high, while promising better performances in the future.

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Trending slideshow: 14 Unforgettable Moments from the Thomas Cup & Uber Cup Finals

Soureesh Datta

Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, a BAM council member and former national player, has openly welcomed the possibility of Zii Jia joining for training.

“Of course, we would welcome Zii Jia if he wishes to join the national players in training, but I don’t have the authority to decide on this. There is a procedure to be followed,” said Chong Wei.

“He can email the management on his intention, and as performance committee chairman, I can bring it up to the BAM council to seek approval,” Chong Wei added.

BAM, the Badminton Association of Malaysia, is the country’s official national badminton body. It oversees matters such as player management and training for major events like the Olympics and the Thomas Cup. It also plays a role in handling sponsorships and funding for players.

Zii Jia’s training with BAM during the Thomas Cup in Horsens evidently benefited him. Competing as the third singles player after a long period of inconsistency and early exits, he went on to win three matches against opponents from England, Finland, and Japan.

What Zii Jia has to say about the sponsorship clash

The main issue surrounding Zii Jia’s possible return to BAM for weekly sessions, rather than as a full-time player, is a sponsorship conflict.

As an independent player, he has been contracted to equipment brand Victor since 2024, with the deal set to run until the 2028 Olympics. BAM, however, has a long-standing sponsorship agreement with YONEX.

BAM is particularly strict about sponsorship and branding requirements within its setup, even in limited arrangements, as players are generally expected to comply with established branding standards.

“I will leave it to BAM to deal with their sponsors,” Zii Jia said, “For me, going in to spar is not a problem, but when it comes to sponsorship, there could be a conflict.”

“I don’t really know what BAM’s rules are, but I understand the situation. Hopefully, we can find a solution.” 

If Zii Jia submits a formal request to BAM, the matter is likely to be discussed at the council meeting during the Malaysia Masters from May 19 to 24.

Read more at Ace Badminton Community!

Trending slideshow: 15 Things That Make Lee Zii Jia One of Badminton’s Most Exciting Stars

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South Korea pulled off a 3-1 victory over the Chinese team, defeating the defending champions. As South Korea’s lead singles player, Se-young brought home a clean sheet, winning all six match-ups, from the group stage straight to the finals. 

This spotless victory, as well as her 5-match winning streak at the Sudirman Cup, puts her in elite company, joining a very short list of elite No. 1-ranked players with flawless team-event runs in both competitions since 2000, per a recent X post by Badminton Ranks.

The World No.1 has now matched the records of the sport’s greatest icons. China’s Lin Dan, the doubles pairing of Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng, and current men’s world No.1 Shi Yuqi are the only other players to have achieved this feat.

The Uber Cup victory didn’t come easy for Se-young, as she faced some of the very best in women’s badminton.

Denmark saw her give it her all in the group stage, winning against former World No. 1, Ratchanok Intanon, in two straight games. She went on to best the Bulgarian heavy hitter, Kaloyana Nalbantova, winning the first match 21-7.

Her final matchup in the group stage was against Clara Azurmendi, whom she beat in two games, with scores of 21-14, 21-11.

The group stages saw Se-young win 126 points while dropping only 71, giving her a 64% win rate across her matchups in Group D. 

The crowd at Forum Horsens watched as the South Korean team went on to dominate the playoff rounds.

An Se-young and team clean house at Uber Cup Playoffs

Team South Korea held their own at the playoff round of the Uber Cup, led from the front by Se-young and Kim Ga-eun, both refusing to drop a single game.

Se-young, after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-Chian and Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani, moved into the final to face China, represented by World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi. The Korean star bested Zhiyi 21-10, 21-13 in two straight games. 

Kim Ga-eun showcased a dominant performance as well, winning in straight games against Chen Yu Fei, adding to South Korea’s arsenal. 

The doubles matches were equally competitive.

While the Chinese duo of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning clinched victory over the South Korean Jeong Na-eun and Lee So-hee, the other pairing gave South Korea the victory. 

Baek Ha-na and Kim Hye-jeong pulled back after a first-game loss of 16-21. The duo went on to defeat China’s Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian in the second (21-10) and third matchups (21-13). 

This marked South Korea’s third Uber Cup victory, with An Se-young retaining her No. 1 World Rank.

Do you think An Se-young and the South Korean side can keep the Chinese at bay for their next matchup as well? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at the Ace Badminton Community!

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The Chinese player was suffering from acute gastroenteritis, which is a kind of stomach infection. It hit Yuqi abruptly last weekend, making him weak and unable to compete. However, upon his return, he remained at the top of his game.

“I began taking in some protein and carbs yesterday to gradually adjust. Pretty much back to normal today,” he said after his semifinals win. A post on X, by @CGTNSportsScene, highlights this situation and Yuqi’s comment on the match and recovery.

The illness also made Shi Yuqi withdraw from two matches earlier this week, when he was supposed to play first singles in a tie against Canada. But he quickly got back, even though he admits that he didn’t fully recover.

“Missing two group matches gave me time to rest, which turned out to be an advantage. What really helped me was staying focused and being determined to give my team a 1-0 lead,” said the 30-year-old. 

Yuqi, ranked World No. 1, is one of the most important badminton players in the circuit, remaining a key figure in China’s squad. He holds a strong record with a lot of experience, and he was a former World Champion who was consistently present in the final levels of most of the major events, like the BWF World Tour events.

How Shi Yuqi breezed past Anders Antonsen

In the group stage, China was placed in Group A alongside India, Canada, and Australia. After finishing in first place, China advanced to the knockout stage.

Shi Yuqi was set to play against Denmark’s singles shuttler and World No. 3, Anders Antonsen. The Chinese player dominated the game to end up winning straight games in just 44 minutes with a scoreline of 21-16, 21-5.

Antonsen is one of the top seeds of his Danish squad and a former World No. 2. He has consistently been a regular participant in major tournaments. He is also a multiple-time World Championship medallist and European champion.

Despite his experience, he was still outclassed by the Chinese player in straight games. However, Yuqi praises his opponent’s previous match against Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, even though Antonsen ended up getting defeated in 16–21, 21–11, 21–18.

“He (Antonsen) played very well against Kunlavut Vitidsarn. I was fully prepared,” said Yuqi. 

China is now set to face France with this win, as it advances to the finals of the tournament to compete for the Thomas Cup title in Horsens, Denmark.

Read more at Ace Badminton Community!

Trending slideshow: Inside the Rise of World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi: 15 Little-Known Facts

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Thalita entered the match with Indonesia trailing 2-0 in the tie. She reflected on how she got out of that mindset to push herself.

“I have always looked up to Tai Tzu Ying,” she said. “I was inspired by her and went into the match with a nothing-to-lose frame of mind knowing we were 2-0 down.” 

The BWF posted on X, highlighting Thalita’s win and noting her words about drawing inspiration from Tzu Ying.

Tai Tzu Ying is one of the most accomplished players in the women’s badminton circuit. She is a former World No. 1 player who held the ranking for over 200 weeks.

The player has made many achievements, including a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. She also made multiple podium finishes at the BWF World Championships, earning a silver in 2021 and a bronze in 2022.

On the other hand, Thalita also won multiple titles on the BWF World Tour, including the season-ending World Tour Finals. She is a three-time All-England Open Champion.

With such a strong record of achievements and titles, Tzu Ying is a notable figure among badminton players, as Thalita’s comments reflect, among other players, just like Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan.

Straight Games Victory for Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan

Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan is an Indonesian shuttler who is currently ranked at World No.63 in singles. She played the third rubber against South Korea’s Sime Yu Jin in the Uber Cup semi-finals on 2nd May.

Thalita ended up winning in straight games, 21-19, 21-19, getting Indonesia to 1-2 from 0-2 in the tie. Just two points decided both games.

Thalita is an emerging singles player who’s currently a part of the national setup. She has won many international titles and consistently participated in international tournaments and team events, including the 2026 Badminton Asia Championships.

Even though Indonesia went on to lose the tie, Thalita’s win was the only point Indonesia scored, reducing the deficit and keeping her country in the competition for a brief time. South Korea later went on to win the next match and secure a 3-1 semi-final win.

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The rule was approved by the Badminton World Federation at its annual general meeting on April 25 in Horsens, Denmark. This is the sport’s first permanent scoring change since 2006.

Player reaction has been mixed. Some athletes believe the shorter format will ease the strain of long matches. China’s Shi Yuqi said it may reduce the physical burden, but it could also make matches more mentally demanding.

“Shorter matches ​mean less demand on physical conditioning, but at the same time, the pressure from opponents, especially younger ones, will be stronger”, he said, via Reuters.

Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie also sees a benefit. He says shorter contests would be easier on the body and recovery. “When I play a long match, like 60-70 minutes, it’s not good for my body. I need more time for recovery. When the match is shorter than 60 minutes, it will be good,” the 28-year-old said, via The Straits Times.

Match time might be less, but intensity will be higher, China’s Feng Yanzhe told The Straits Times. Players may have to attack harder and settle faster. In the same report, South Korea’s An Se-young also questioned if shorter games would make badminton better or more intense.

Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew told The Straits Times that athletes will have less time to “test” their opponents and recover from slow starts. At the same time, Malaysia’s coaching director Kenneth Jonassen added that the reduced points could be advantageous for all-around players who commit fewer mistakes.

What did BWF say about the new 3×15 scoring system?

BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul stated that the new system represents a milestone for the future of badminton.

“We are building a sport that speaks to the next generation, while continuing to invest in the long‑term future of our players,” Leeswadtrakul said.

“The 3×15 scoring system is intended to deliver more exciting and competitive badminton, improved scheduling, more consistent match durations, and potential benefits for player welfare and recovery,” he added. 

Leeswadtrakul also addressed the concerns fans and athletes have been raising. “We know that change can raise concern, especially in a sport with such strong traditions. But this decision does not change the fundamental nature of badminton,” he said. 

What is your opinion on this new change by BWF?

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When tested in a more controlled setting, it easily crossed 500 km/h, which is even faster than the top speed of an F1 car, which ranges up to 360 km/h. But this kind of speed only exists for a split second.

This high speed quickly dies down due to the structure of a shuttlecock, mainly cause of it’s feather design, which has a very high air resistance. So even if the hit starts at over 400km/h, the design makes it slow down to nearly 100km/h by the time it crosses over the net.

Moving onto the power, it all fully depends upon the player’s coordination and hit; it involves many factors like the coordination between their knees, hip, elbow, wrist, and many more things.

This coordination is what creates a powerful hit, with a whip sound, which transfers all their energy from their foot to the shuttle. It all comes down to kinetic energy. The faster the racket moves, the faster the hits go.

With so many factors in line, it also sometimes depends upon the equipment, cause today’s rackets are lighter and stiffer, so that a lot of energy is not lost, while still giving a powerful hit. 

With the best of the best equipment and powerful players, the modern badminton tournaments seem much more intense. It explains that the speed doesn’t come from just hitting the shuttlecock hard but from understanding how it works.

Evolution of the Badminton Sport

Badminton has evolved a lot over the last few centuries, and it can be traced back over 2000 years now easily. The sport was played back in ancient Greece, China, and India. 

This early version was a very simple game of hitting a shuttlecock with a simple paddle or mostly using hands for passing time, rather than a competition.

This later went on to be known as Battledore in Europe and was played for over centuries. It was very similar to the earlier version, but now the goal was to keep the shuttle in the air for as long as possible. There was still no introduction of the concept of scores or even a net.

The modern Badminton we know today began evolving in the 1860’s in British India, and back then it was known as “Poona,” where British officers added scoring and a net to the simple game.

By 1873, it had become a fully recognised sport and even had its first official rules established in 1877. The first official major tournament was the All England Championships in 1899.

The sport grew quickly, and even the international governing body, the BWF, Badminton World Federation, was formed in 1934, and by 1992, it became an official sport in the Olympics.

The sport has evolved a lot over these past few centuries, from a simple game played with just bare hands and a shuttlecock, growing into a faster-paced and aggressive sport with modern rackets made of aluminium, steel, and much more.

So, were you shocked to know that with a strong strike, even a shuttlecock can beat an F1 car in an ideal scenario?

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It is the first time since 2010 that Malaysia has reached the Uber Cup quarter-finals after years of struggles on the world stage at Forum Horsens.

The campaign ended Thursday with a 3-0 loss to defending champions China, but the young squad advanced to the quarterfinals despite being composed of 50 percent young players.

“The national women’s badminton squad has shown great potential for stronger performances in future editions,” said Rexy Mainaky after the tie.

“With a squad composed of 50 percent young players, they still managed to reach the quarter-finals after 16 years.”

Malaysia had not reached the Uber Cup quarterfinals since 2010 but gained confidence fast during the group stage. The players remained resilient under pressure and grew in belief as the competition progressed.

Malaysia refused to buckle under pressure from China in the quarter-finals.

National women’s singles player K. Letshanaa gave Malaysia a competitive opening match, but fell to world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi. The world No. 33 took the Chinese star the distance in the 47-minute contest but went down narrowly, 17-21 and 18-21.

The close score line hinted at Malaysia’s increasing competitiveness against the elite opposition.

China finished with a 3-0 victory, but the Malaysian camp is looking at progress rather than the final score.

Young Players Step Up and Show Growing Depth of Malaysia

The emergence of younger players during the tournament was one of the notable positives of Malaysia’s campaign.

The young shuttlers played well under pressure against better opponents. Their performances were a good sign for the future of women’s badminton in the country.

Throughout the campaign, the doubles combinations, in particular, competed closely in several matches. The younger Malaysian players were more confident and composed than they have been in past major team events.

Another talking point of the tournament was the team’s unity. Players kept the energy high on the inside of camp, supporting each other through tough matches and injury setbacks.

That togetherness saw Malaysia through difficult moments and finally clinch a long-awaited spot in the quarterfinals.

The goal for the younger players is to continue to improve and achieve better results against top-ranked nations.

For the first time in years, the national women’s team exited the tournament not just disappointed but with a real sense that better days may finally be ahead.

Read more at the Ace Badminton Community!