Fans Voice Concerns For Lee Zii Jia's Mental Health Following Unsettling Instagram Post
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh confirmed the news, but assured that the door remains open should the badminton player reconsider. It's been a few weeks since the news broke, and fans have been wondering how he's been coping. Many expressed concern after the young star posted a series of troubling images on his Instagram, which appeared to hint at his current mental health struggles. Here's what happened:
Yesterday (Thursday, 3rd July), Lee Zii Jia shared a carousel of images on his Instagram, featuring drawings that appeared to depict struggles with mental health, particularly depression. The unsettling post was shared without a caption, and the athlete also changed his profile photo to black, further fuelling concern among fans.
Naturally, many took to the comments section to express their support, offering words of comfort to the 27-year-old. Some, fearing the worst, urged the young star not to act rashly and reminded him that things can and will get better. Several fellow athletes also showed their support, including Lai Pei Jing, Yap Roy King, and Goh Jin Wei, who reminded Zii Jia that he doesn't have to face his hardships alone.
Fans also urged Zii Jia's celebrity friends to check in on him personally, simply to ensure he is safe and well. After browsing through some of their social media pages, it was found that Lai Pei Jing recently posted about spending time with the Kedah-born badminton player and their friends at what appears to be a Disney-themed garden in Singapore. However, it remains unclear when the gathering actually took place.
At the time of writing, neither Lee Zii Jia nor his team has issued any updates regarding his current condition. We sincerely hope that his friends and family are by his side during this difficult time and that he receives the support he needs to recover and regain his strength.
Sources: Instagram, TheStar
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Zii Jia's cryptic post sparks concern, Liu Ying offers advice
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national mixed doubles star Goh Liu Ying has urged Lee Zii Jia to seek professional help, including from a psychologist, if he is struggling to cope with pressure. Liu Ying, a Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist, said that while pressure is a constant in an athlete's life, it must be managed properly to avoid affecting both performance and mental health. "Pressure is always there for every athlete — it's just a matter of how much," she said. View this post on Instagram "But if it reaches a point where it can't be controlled, then yes, you need to see a psychologist. "This was very normal for me when I was playing. Even before the Olympics, I sought help from a psychologist. But first, the athlete must have the courage to admit there is a problem and take that step." Liu Ying was speaking at an event at UiTM Shah Alam on Friday, in response to a cryptic post shared by Zii Jia on Instagram a day earlier. The post, which featured a series of black-and-white illustrations without captions, left fans concerned and speculating about the shuttler's current state of mind. "I think this is his way of releasing pressure," said Liu Ying. "Outsiders may not understand, but he knows what he's going through. This is the age of social media — pressure is always there, so he needs to find a way to rebalance himself." Liu Ying also pointed out that injury recovery can be one of the most mentally draining phases for any athlete, particularly for professionals like Zii Jia, who are not under a national body and rely on sponsors. "Even sponsors will start asking when you can return. So it's not just about recovering from physical pain, but also the pressure to get back to your best," she said. Zii Jia, currently ranked world No. 27, injured his right ankle during the BWF World Tour Finals in December last year. The injury flared up again at the All England in March, forcing him into a prolonged break. He has since applied for a protected ranking from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to safeguard his tournament entries during his recovery. Zii Jia has not played a match since his first-round exit at the All England, with the Orleans Masters, where he reached the quarter-finals — being the only other World Tour event he featured in this year.
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Liu Ying advises Zii Jia to seek help if he's facing internal battles
Goh Liu Ying.—AZMAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: Is national men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia struggling emotionally, going through a personal crisis or is it just nothing? Only he holds the answer. But for former Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Goh Liu Ying, Zii Jia should seek help for his own well-being before things spiral further, that is if he is indeed battling internal struggles. Zii Jia sparked concern among fans yesterday after posting a series of 10 disturbing images on his Instagram account. One of the drawings showed a faceless, stitched-up figure holding a long, blood-stained needle. Another depicted a person lying on a sofa with sharp objects piercing the body and their brain exposed. Many fans expressed worry, fearing Zii Jia may be struggling to cope, possibly still dealing with the foot injury that has kept him out of action for most of the year. He is expected to make a return to competition at the Japan Open from July 15-20. "I think all athletes deal with pressure to some degree. But if the pressure becomes overwhelming, it's important to speak to a psychologist," said Liu Ying. "I've been through it myself, and I made the decision to seek help. "The first step is to acknowledge the problem. That's the hardest part, because many people in that situation will deny it. "But if you can admit that something's wrong, then there's a path forward. If not, no advice, no matter how well-meaning will get through." Liu Ying added that perhaps Zii Jia has yet to find a way to release that pressure. "What matters is finding a way to cope. It could be talking to a friend or taking time to figure out what works best for him," she said. Liu Ying also did not rule out the possibility that Zii Jia's frustration could be linked to his injury, which has seen his world ranking slip to No. 27. Speaking from experience, Liu Ying recalled a difficult period in 2017 when she sustained a serious knee injury. For her, the most mentally exhausting part wasn't the surgery itself, but it was the months of rehabilitation that followed. "That's what really takes a toll on you mentally. And now that he's an independent player, the pressure is probably higher especially from sponsors who expect visibility and performance," she said. "There's pressure when sponsors ask, 'When can you start competing again?' and that could potentially affect his income. "He may also feel rushed to return to court. And if he does, but isn't in his best shape or fails to produce results, it can be disheartening. "But the truth is, players coming back from injury need time to adapt. It's unrealistic to expect them to return to 100% immediately. "At best, you're operating at 50 to 60% when you return. The rest must be built back gradually through competition." StarSport reached out to Zii Jia's sister and Team LZJ manager, Lee Zii Yii, for an update on his current condition but did not receive a response.
Hype Malaysia
12 hours ago
- Hype Malaysia
Fans Voice Concerns For Lee Zii Jia's Mental Health Following Unsettling Instagram Post
Last month, national shuttler Lee Zii Jia (李梓嘉) declined the offer to join the Road to Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA2028). According to his team, the athlete is still recovering from injuries sustained during the World Tour Finals in December and believes that his peers are more deserving of the opportunity at this time. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh confirmed the news, but assured that the door remains open should the badminton player reconsider. It's been a few weeks since the news broke, and fans have been wondering how he's been coping. Many expressed concern after the young star posted a series of troubling images on his Instagram, which appeared to hint at his current mental health struggles. Here's what happened: Yesterday (Thursday, 3rd July), Lee Zii Jia shared a carousel of images on his Instagram, featuring drawings that appeared to depict struggles with mental health, particularly depression. The unsettling post was shared without a caption, and the athlete also changed his profile photo to black, further fuelling concern among fans. Naturally, many took to the comments section to express their support, offering words of comfort to the 27-year-old. Some, fearing the worst, urged the young star not to act rashly and reminded him that things can and will get better. Several fellow athletes also showed their support, including Lai Pei Jing, Yap Roy King, and Goh Jin Wei, who reminded Zii Jia that he doesn't have to face his hardships alone. Fans also urged Zii Jia's celebrity friends to check in on him personally, simply to ensure he is safe and well. After browsing through some of their social media pages, it was found that Lai Pei Jing recently posted about spending time with the Kedah-born badminton player and their friends at what appears to be a Disney-themed garden in Singapore. However, it remains unclear when the gathering actually took place. At the time of writing, neither Lee Zii Jia nor his team has issued any updates regarding his current condition. We sincerely hope that his friends and family are by his side during this difficult time and that he receives the support he needs to recover and regain his strength. Sources: Instagram, TheStar
