Lee Zii Jia's Semi-Final Run at the Canada Open Signals a Resilient Return From Injury

The Markham Pan Am Centre witnessed a significant milestone this weekend for one of badminton's most dynamic talents. Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia reached the semi-finals of the YONEX Canada Open 2026, securing his deepest tournament run in two years.[1]

Facing Japan's rising star Riki Takei in the men's singles semi-final, the 28-year-old former All England champion engaged in a grueling 70-minute battle. Although Lee ultimately fell 13-21, 21-18, 18-21, the performance was celebrated as a massive victory in its own right.[1]

Lee's journey back to the court has been fraught with physical and mental hurdles. During the BWF World Tour Finals in December 2024, he sustained a severe ankle ligament injury that abruptly halted his momentum and forced him into a prolonged seven-month layoff.[1]

His initial attempts to return in 2025 were plagued by recurring pain and early exits. Acknowledging the toll on his body, Lee made the difficult decision in November 2025 to shut down his season entirely, prioritizing an extensive rehabilitation program over immediate ranking points.

Returning to the BWF World Tour in early 2026, Lee faced a steep climb. His world ranking had slipped to No. 60, and he suffered several first-round eliminations as he worked to shake off the competitive rust against a rapidly evolving field.[1]

The Super 300 event in Ontario proved to be the turning point. Lee strung together a series of impressive victories, including a standout quarter-final win over Taiwan's Wang Po-wei, to secure his first semi-final appearance since the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Definitely, it's one of my best performances since returning from injury," Lee remarked after the tournament. "As you can see, I've struggled a lot and I'm still trying to regain my confidence. I've struggled again and again, but here I am."

The semi-final against Takei—who is notably coached by former world No. 1 Kento Momota—tested Lee's endurance to its limits. Pushing a younger, highly fit opponent to the brink in a three-game decider demonstrated that Lee's baseline physical fitness is finally returning to an elite standard.[1]

"Although I haven't beaten a top-ranked or top-10 player yet, I still consider this a good start as I work towards climbing back up the world rankings," Lee noted, acknowledging that the competition has grown fiercer during his absence.

Lee wasn't the only player using the Canada Open as a springboard for recovery. Canadian home favorite Michelle Li also made her return to action at the tournament following an injury layoff that had sidelined her since the Indonesia Open in June.[2][3]

With the Canadian Open concluding a demanding four-week stretch that included the Australian and US Opens, Lee now heads back to Malaysia to recover. His next target is the Taiwan Open in late July, where he will look to build on this hard-earned momentum.