⁠Lee Zii Jia's projected path to BWF World Championships 2025 final

Lee Zii Jia will be playing his first tournament since the All England in March.

Lee Zii Jia is Malaysia’s premier badminton talent and one of the sport’s most explosive players. The 27-year-old became an Olympic bronze medallist at Paris 2024, defeating India’s Lakshya Sen in a thrilling comeback victory after losing the first game.

He is also the 2021 All England champion, 2022 Asian champion, and 2019 SEA Games gold medallist, establishing himself among the world’s elite shuttlers.

However, Zii Jia has been struggling with fitness and form issues since his Olympic triumph. After being granted BWF ranking protection due to injury, he missed several tournaments in early 2025, including the Badminton Asia Championships.

The World Championships in Jakarta mark his return to competitive action after a four-month layoff. Lee will be looking to rediscover the form that made him a consistent top-5 player.

Here’s a look at Lee Zii Jia’s projected path to the BWF World Championships 2025 final based on the draw.

Lee Zii Jia’s projected path-

R64 – Jeon Hyeok Jin

Zii Jia opens his campaign against South Korea’s Jeon Hyeok Jin, a qualifier who presents a relatively straightforward first-round test.

Despite his recent inactivity, the Malaysian should have enough quality to advance, though ring rust could be a factor given his long absence from competition. Jeon is currently ranked number 38 in the world.

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R32 – Lu Guang Zu

In the second round, Zii Jia would likely face China’s Lu Guang Zu, a steady and consistent player who has been performing well on the World Tour. Lu’s defensive style could test Zii Jia’s patience, especially if the Malaysian is still finding his rhythm after the injury layoff.

R16 – Li Shi Feng

The pre-quarterfinals could pit Zii Jia against World No. 4 Li Shi Feng, the 2023 All England champion from China. Li’s relentless pace and aggressive style would pose a significant challenge.

This would be a crucial test of whether Zii Jia has regained his peak form, as he has shown he can match Li’s intensity when at his best. Li also leads the h2h 4-2 against the Malaysian.

Quarter-final – Kodai Naraoka / Loh Kean Yew

From this section, Zii Jia could face either the number 8 seed from Japan, Kodai Naraoka, or the number 9 seed, Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew. Naraoka is known for his deceptive shots and court craft, while Loh brings speed and defense. Both would provide stern tests for a medal spot.

Semi-final – Shi Yu Qi / Christo Popov

If Zii Jia makes the last four, he would face the winner from the top 16 section of the draw. The most likely opponents are world number 1 from China, Shi Yu Qi, or number 10 seed, France’s Christo Popov.

Shi Yu Qi, the current World No. 1, would be an incredibly tough challenge given his recent dominance and exceptional form. Christo Popov brings a dangerous attacking game and has been improving steadily on the World Tour.

Final – Anders Antonsen / Kunlavut Vitidsarn

From the other half of the draw, Denmark’s Anders Antonsen appears the most likely finalist. The Danish is the No. 2 seed, and his all-round game and consistency have troubled many top players; he would pose a formidable challenge in a potential title decider.

Another potential opponent in the final could be the reigning world champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand. He is the number 3 seed who won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

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