2025-07-04,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.

"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.