At the recent Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships, Lee Zii Jia faced challenges on his path to success.

While he managed to avoid a showdown with the Danish top seed Viktor Axelsen, he couldn't conquer Chinese Taipei's Lee Chia Hao in the second round of the men's singles.

He lost a closely contested match with scores of 19-21, 21-17, and 22-20, despite initially leading 11-7 in the final game.

Lee Zii Jia missed a golden opportunity to compete for the championship, casting a shadow over his hopes of reviving his declining career. With Lee Zii Jia out of the picture, fans now pin their hopes on Ng Tze Yong, who is set to face Indonesian star Jonatan Christie on the 16th, vying for a place in the men's singles final in Hong Kong.

In recent interviews, the struggling badminton player Lee Zii Jia frequently expressed his determination to rediscover his top form. However, the pressing question is, how much time does he truly have to spare? His early exit from the Hong Kong tournament marks the 11th time in 14 World Tour events this year that

Lee Zii Jia has fallen short of reaching the round of 16.

The recent series of letdowns has significantly dampened the morale of the player ranked 16th in the world, particularly with the Asian Games in Hangzhou swiftly approaching next week.

At the age of 25, Lee Zii Jia should be at his peak, poised to secure a podium finish in the individual events at the Asian Games, a quadrennial competition. Should he miss this year's event, he will have to wait until the 2026 Asian Games for another opportunity.

While Lee Zii Jia did manage to reach the semifinals of the Swiss Open, All England Open Badminton Championships in March, and the Australian Open last month, his form is evidently not up to par to place him among the top contenders for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Even more concerning is the reliance of the Malaysian team on him to lead the men's team competition and secure vital points during the first men's singles match.

The current predicament faced by Lee Zii Jia has triggered concerns and contemplation among fans. Can he swiftly recapture his peak performance to return to the path of victory?

Undoubtedly, this is a pivotal moment in his career. Regardless, people remain hopeful that he can overcome these obstacles and once again exhibit his strength and potential on the court.