KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 – It will be a grand double for badminton at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremony at Japan National Stadium on July 23 when both the flag bearers will be from the shuttle sport.
Men’s singles hopeful Lee Zii Jia had extra appetite for lunch on Tuesday when he received news that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has picked him as the flag bearer to replace archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad who asked to be replaced due to time factor as he will be involved in the event the next day.
The other flag bearer will be Goh Liu Ying, who will compete in the mixed doubles with Chan Peng Soon. The pair won the silver at the last Olympics in Rio in 2016.
Zii Jia, a Olympics rookie, is all excited with the latest developments and believes the added responsibility is a “confidence booster” in his bid to win a medal in the mega event.
For the record, Zii Jia won this year’s All-England title in the prestigious event in Birmingham in March.
”I got the news while I was having my lunch. For sure I am excited with the responsibility. It will spur me to do well in Tokyo…it is a confidence booster,” said Zii Jia, who hails from Alor Setar on his selection.
Zii Jia thanked OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria, who is also the president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be held from July 23 to August 8 after being postponed to this year due to ravaging coronavirus pandemic that has rocked the world on all fronts.
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