KUALA LUMPUR: The Lee Zii Jia episode is becoming a pain in Malaysian sports.
Is he worth the trouble? Based on recent episodes of this drama, it is clear that the world No 11 does not know how to handle pressure and stress off and on the court.
And sports officials rather avoid making unpopular comments and decisions about Zii Jia as he enjoys cult status on social media.
On Wednesday, the independent men's singles shuttler announced he was taking an indefinite break from badminton after his first-round defeat to India's Lakshya Sen at the Indonesia Open, a day after the Malaysian dropped out of the top 10 world rankings.
It was his second consecutive first-round exit after the Singapore Open.
Zii Jia's form has been rocky since finishing runner-up at the Denmark Open in October last year, and it seems he has yet to find a solution to regain his form.
Many believe his newly appointed coach Wong Tat Meng, who will report for duty soon, will save his career.
However, only time will tell whether this will happen as it is not easy for an athlete to regain his form and confidence.
Although Zii Jia is not in the same league as the now-retired Lee Chong Wei, he enjoys cult status in world badminton.
His overzealous fans have also threatened journalists and netizens for their "negative" reports or comments on him. One reporter even lodged a police report after receiving threats on social media.
For some fans, Zii Jia can do no wrong, and probably that is the main problem. Maybe, the shuttler is taking things for granted, as he knows the fans will back him on whatever issues.
Of course, excelling in sports is tough, and only the gifted can achieve it. And Zii Jia has a special gift, which he showed when he won the 2021 All England and the 2022 Asian Championships, but somehow he is inconsistent and succumbs to pressure frequently.
However, he is becoming an excess baggage in Malaysian sports, and the authorities must decide whether it is worth the trouble supporting him all the way until the Paris Olympics next year.
Furthermore, the former world No 2 still has unfinished business in another court, as he is set to face his former coach, Indra Wijaya, in a lawsuit battle.
It also remains to be seen if Zii Jia will still be a part of the Road to Gold (RTG) programme following a spate of mediocre results.
However, Zii Jia is like a G.O.A.T in Malaysian sports, and it's unlikely he will be dropped from the RTG.
His poor form has become a concern for many.
Paris Olympics Chef de Mission Datuk Hamidin Amin had a discussion with the shuttler about sparring partners and overseas training stints, which did not sit down well with several quarters.
It will paint a negative picture if RTG covers the costs of sparring partners and overseas training stints of an independent shuttler.
To qualify for the RTG programme, an athlete must fulfil one of the two criteria: be an Olympic medallist, or in the world's top 10, and Zii Jia does not meet the criteria currently.
However, sports officials are not as stern as before, as they, too, want to protect their image and not become a punching bag on social media.
Superstar athletes in Malaysia, not only in badminton, have become untouchables. Even their national sports associations don't dare to reprimand them to avoid negative spotlight.
And because of this, some athletes have become pampered. They rile up fans to support them while some sing a sad song or post something emotional to gain sympathy.
It is a disturbing trend in Malaysian sports. It shows that some Malaysian athletes are not mentally strong enough to meet the demands and handle the pressure of their respective sports and resort to other methods to stay relevant.
Our athletes should learn from real G.O.A.Ts like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who all have "monster mentality" to remain on top of their game.
* Ajitpal Singh is the Sports Editor of NST
